RICHMOND, Va. — Relentless rain drenched much of the Atlantic seaboard Thursday, triggering coastal flood warnings and watches from North Carolina to New York's Long Island, inundating streets and forcing some rescues of stranded drivers in hard-hit Virginia.

The downpour is the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida, as the storm's remnants move along the Atlantic coast. Although Ida quickly weakened once it made landfall, it soaked a swath from Alabama to Georgia soon after.

Watches and warnings for gales, high winds and storms were in effect from North Carolina to New Jersey.

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine declared a state of emergency, and officials urged people in some areas to stay home as rain was predicted to continue in the drenched state at least through Friday.

Mari Rosadson, who works at the front desk of the Marriott Waterside in downtown Norfolk, said she and her friend encountered standing water during the 5-mile drive from her home to work.

"We made it through fine, thank God. It took me 45 minutes to get to work, more than double the time," she said.

Coastal southeast Virginia seemed to be the focus of the most severe flooding Thursday, and a coastal flood warning was in effect through Friday evening.

The National Weather Service warned that parts of the area could expect up to 4 inches of rain by midmorning. The weather service said the greatest threat for severe flooding in the Hampton Roads area would likely come during high tide Thursday afternoon and Friday evening.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management spokesman Bob Spieldenner said his agency has received reports of a few Hampton Roads residents being rescued from their cars after getting stuck in high water.

Similar incidents have been reported in coastal Norfolk, where winds were worsening high tides already 6 feet to 7 feet above normal. Flooding closed several streets, bridges and a major tunnel.

"Each high tide is going to be worse, because the water's going to keep building," Spieldenner said.

The agency also is monitoring the potential for inland river flooding, depending on how much total rain will get dumped on the state. In western Virginia, Salem officials reported flooded streets and some people being pulled out of low-lying areas.

Dominion Power reported more than 21,000 outages in Virginia early Thursday, with more than half in southeast Virginia. Most Hampton Roads schools and universities canceled classes Thursday and some businesses closed for the day.