Images: Storm pound East Coast
Millions along the East Coast breathed a little easier Friday after forecasters said Hurricane Joaquin would probably veer out to sea. But a freakishly powerful rainstorm fueled in part by the hurricane threatened to bring ruinous flooding to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard over the weekend.
With the soil already soggy and roads swamped in places from days of rain, East Coast states braced for what forecasters said could be deadly and unprecedented downpours.
New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and parts of Maryland and Delaware were under states of emergency. Meteorologists said the Carolinas will probably get the worst of it, with 15 inches of rain in places and landslides possible in the mountains.
"It's going to be enormous," meteorologist Ryan Maue of Weather Bell Analytics said. "It's going to be a slow-motion disaster."
For days, authorities had feared that Joaquin would link up with the rainstorm, multiplying the disastrous effects. Various computer models showed the hurricane hitting North Carolina's Outer Banks, New Jersey, New York's Long Island or Massachusetts' Cape Cod.
But on Friday, as Joaquin raked the Bahamas with winds of 130 mph, forecasters said it appeared the hurricane would pass well off the U.S. coast.
Alec Johnson, 18, from Lincolnton, N.C., fishes in the surf as high tide comes in at the east end of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Days of steady rain across most of North Carolina will present a threat into next week even though Hurricane Joaquin appears to be moving away from the East Coast, Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday. (Mike Spencer/The Star-News via AP)
Tony and Sandy Mathena, from Raleigh, N.C., make a quick retreat up the steps to The Isles Restaurant & Beach Club as high tide come in at the west end of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Days of steady rain across most of North Carolina will present a threat into next week even though Hurricane Joaquin appears to be moving away from the East Coast, Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday. (Mike Spencer/The Star-News via AP)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, meets with state, county and local officials to speak about potential hazards, such as flooding and power outages from heavy rain and strong winds that were expected this weekend, at the Sea Isle City Fire Department, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Sea Isle City, N.J.
Bob Williams and Jamie Colon, of Galloway, N.J., walk the Boardwalk as heavy rain falls in Atlantic City, N.J. Friday Oct. 2, 2015.
Nelson Gonzalez navigates his bike around floodwater along on New York Avenue in Atlantic City, N.J. Friday Oct. 2, 2015. New Jersey got pounded Friday by heavy rain and strong winds that were expected to bring coastal flooding this weekend, even though the state is no longer in the anticipated path of Hurricane Joaquin. (Ben Fogletto/The Press of Atlantic City via AP)
Abeachgoer takes photos of the significant erosion Croatan Beach Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Virginia Beach. Va. A storm system brought heavy rain and wind into the region as well as major coastal flooding. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Wendy McGrady uses a paddle board to navigate a flooded Rader Street to meet her children who coming back from school Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Norfolk, Va. A storm system brought heavy rain and wind into the region as well as major coastal flooding. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Wendy McGrady, left, pushes her two twin boys, Tucker, left, and Jackson, right, both 7, on paddle board to home after they arrived from their school Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Norfolk, Va. Their neighbor, Michael Fernandez helps at right. A storm system brought heavy rain and wind into the region as well as major coastal flooding. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
PETA field worker, Heather Johnson, right, pulls her colleague veterinarian, Dana Windsor, though floodwater on a rescue canoe to the dry ground on Front Street during high tide, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Norfolk, Va. A storm system brought heavy rain and wind into the region as well as major coastal flooding. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Floodwaters enveloped this neighborhood in the Strathmere section of Upper Township N.J. on Friday Oct. 2, 2015. Despite forecasts showing the impending Hurricane Joaquin may move out to sea and not directly strike New Jersey, crews along the shore were nonetheless taking precautions against flooding from a wind and rainstorm that preceded Joaquin and that was causing some flooding in southern New Jersey on Friday.
Floodwaters enveloped this neighborhood in the Strathmere section of Upper Township N.J. on Friday Oct. 2, 2015. Despite forecasts showing the impending Hurricane Joaquin may move out to sea and not directly strike New Jersey, crews along the shore were nonetheless taking precautions against flooding from a wind and rainstorm that preceded Joaquin and that was causing some flooding in southern New Jersey on Friday.
Heavy equipment moves sand that was trucked in to the beach in the Ortley Beach section of Toms River N.J. on Friday Oct. 2, 2015. Despite forecasts showing the impending Hurricane Joaquin may move out to sea and not directly strike New Jersey, crews along the shore were nonetheless taking precautions against flooding from a wind and rainstorm that preceded Joaquin and that was causing some flooding in southern New Jersey on Friday.
Cars drive through a flooded intersection during high tide on Chincoteague Island, Va., on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Virginia State Police say they've responded to dozens of vehicle crashes throughout the state as heavy rains cause problems for motorists.
People watch the waves in a rainstorm at Atlantic Ocean at Carolina Beach, N. C., Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Millions along the East Coast breathed a little easier Friday after forecasters said Hurricane Joaquin would probably veer out to sea instead of joining up with a drenching rainstorm that is bringing severe flooding to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard.
A few hours before high tide, wind-driven waves crash into a fishing pier in Virginia Beach, Va., Friday, Oct 2, 2015. Millions along the East Coast breathed a little easier Friday after forecasters said Hurricane Joaquin would probably veer out to sea. But a freakishly powerful rainstorm fueled in part by the hurricane threatened to bring ruinous flooding to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard over the weekend.(L. Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Sea foam is blown swiftly along the beach as waves crash along the shore in Sea Isle City, N.J., Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. New Jersey got pounded Friday by heavy rain and strong winds that were expected to bring coastal flooding this weekend, even though the state is no longer in the anticipated path of Hurricane Joaquin. (Lori M. Nichols/Gloucester County Times via AP)
A man wades through floodwater on Atlantic Avenue during high tide in Wachapreague, Va., Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. A storm system brought heavy rain and wind into the region as well as major coastal flooding. (Jay Diem/The Daily Times via AP)
Airmen and volunteers place sandbags outside of a building at Langley Air Force Base Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1, 2015, as heavy rain falls in Hampton, Va. The base will be closed to all non-mission essential personnel beginning Friday morning. The base's leadership made the decision based on projected tidal surges and potential flooding from Hurricane Joaquin.
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