Cloudy. Rain likely early in the evening...then a chance of rain in the late evening and overnight. Lows in the lower 50s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
... Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 6 PM EST Friday...
A coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 6 PM EST Friday.
The approaching new phase of the moon... in tandem with the strong onshore flow... will lead to increasing tidal anomalies through Friday afternoon. The greatest threat for moderate to severe flooding can be expected during the high tide cycle through Friday afternoon... as anomalies reach 2 to 3 feet above normal over the northern areas... and 3 to 4 feet above normal for Gloucester and Matthews.
The high tide cycles this evening will occur at 1023 PM EST at Lewisetta and is expected to reach 3.5 to 4 feet resulting in moderate to severe flooding.
The high tide cycles Friday morning will occur at 608 am EST at Gloucester... 742 am EST at Windmill Point... and at 956 am EST at Lewisetta. Water levels referenced to mean lower low water... are expected to reach 5.5 to 6.5 feet at Gloucester... 4.5 to 5 feet at Windmill Point... and 4.5 to 5 feet at Lewisetta... resulting in moderate to severe flooding.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A coastal Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring or imminent. Coastal residents in the warned area should be alert for rising water... and take appropriate action to protect life and property.
Areal Flood Watch
Statement as of 10:07 PM EST on November 12, 2009
... Flood Watch now in effect through Friday morning...
The Flood Watch is now in effect for
* portions of central Virginia... east central Virginia... interior southeast Virginia... south central Virginia... the middle peninsula of Virginia... the Northern Neck of Virginia and the peninsula of southeast Virginia... including the following areas... in central Virginia... Caroline... Chesterfield... Hanover... Henrico and Prince George. In east central Virginia... Charles City... King William and New Kent. In interior southeast Virginia... Greensville... Surry and Sussex. In south central Virginia... Dinwiddie. In the middle Mathews and Middlesex. In the Northern Neck of Virginia... Lancaster... Northumberland... Richmond and Westmoreland. In the peninsula of southeast Virginia... James City.
* Through Friday morning
* periods of rain will continue overnight into Friday morning. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected across the area... with locally higher amounts possible. Total rainfall amounts from this storm will will range between 5 and 10 inches.
* Additional rainfall may cause flooding of creeks and small streams through Friday morning. Also... flooding may occur in poor drainage areas. Main Stem river levels will also continue to rise... with minor to moderate river flooding expected into the upcoming weekend. See wbcflsakq for additional information.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
High Wind Warning
Statement as of 9:07 PM EST on November 12, 2009
... High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6 am EST Friday...
A High Wind Warning remains in effect until 6 am EST Friday.
The combination of strong high pressure over northern New England... and low pressure along the Carolina coast will result in a continuation of very strong and gusty northeast winds through early Friday. These winds will average 30 to 40 mph with gusts 55 to 70 mph... overnight and continue into Friday morning. The winds will gradually weaken Friday afternoon into Saturday as the high pressure system moves northeast into the northern Atlantic... and the area of low pressure moves southeast... out to sea.
Very strong winds and saturated ground will result in downed trees... and cause widespread power outages.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage. Winds this strong can also make driving difficult... especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Record Report
Statement as of 05:42 PM EST on November 12, 2009
... Record daily maximum rainfall set at Norfolk VA...
A record rainfall for this date was set at Norfolk VA.
So far today... 3.30 inches fell today. This breaks the old record of 3.12 set in 1937.
An update will be sent on Fri morning.
Public Information Statement
Statement as of 10:00 PM EST on November 12, 2009
... Intense coastal storm continues to bring areas of rain and strong winds to the mid Atlantic region...
Areas of moderate to heavy rain continue across portions eastern and central Virginia. Excessive wind gusts occurred over portions of southeast Virginia... reaching in excess of 70 mph at times.
Low pressure system near Cape Hatteras at 9 PM was moving very slowly toward the north and northeast.
Rainfall amounts have varied over the region during the past 60 hours ... With the heaviest rainfall occurring over southeast Virginia. Rainfall amounts in this region have ranged from 6 to 9 inches since Tuesday night... with locally higher amounts.
The following are unofficial peak wind gusts from ASOS and AWOS sites across southeast Virginia... the Delmarva Peninsula and northeastern Virginia... since 600 am Wednesday through 3 PM this afternoon.
Cbbv2 (chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel va) 71 (800 PM est) chyv2 (cape Henry va) 72 (543 PM est) ykrv2 (york river light va) 66 (506 PM est) korf (norfolk va) 74 (611 PM est) rplv2 (rappahannock light va) 60 (230 PM est) kwal (wallops island va) 59 (758 PM est) wahv2 (wachapreague va) 57 (600 PM est) kntu (oceana va) 75 (614 PM est) koxb (ocean city md) 56 (1215 PM est) kecg (elizabeth city nc) 54 (204 PM est) ocim2 (ocean city inlet MD 44 (848 am est) 44009 (15nm E of Fenwick is de) 62 (400 PM est) dukn7 (duck pier nc) 53 (1012 am est)
Here are the latest unofficial reports in inches from storm spotters and cocorahs... along with a few official reports from area airports. Precipitation amounts are storm totals unless otherwise specified.