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Wednesday’s First Warning Forecast: Feeling the impacts from Maria off of the coast

Posted at 5:43 AM, Sep 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-27 11:10:39-04

Meteorologist Myles Henderson’s First Warning Forecast

***A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the North Carolina coast from Bogue Inlet to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

*** Storm Surge Warning for Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Hatteras.

*** Storm Surge Watch for Cape Hatteras to Duck.

Maria moving north just off of the North Carolina coast… Today’s weather will be very similar to yesterday with clouds, rain, winds, and coastal flooding. Expect mostly cloudy skies today with a few glimpses of sun possible. We will see areas of drizzle with scattered showers mixing in throughout the day. Most areas will see very little rainfall but enough to make it a messy day. Winds will remain strong and gusty today. Most areas will see wind gusts to near 35 mph. Gusts to 40+ mph are possible for the VA coast and 50+ for the NC coast.

The strong and persistent NE/N winds will trigger tidal flooding. “Minor” level tidal flooding is possible near times of high tide this afternoon. High tide levels will slowly drop Thursday and return closer to normal on Friday. We will likely see areas of coastal flooding and ocean overwash with a storm surge of 2’ to 4’ possible for the Outer Banks. Rough surf and a high risk for rip currents will continue.

As Maria moves away from the coast tomorrow, conditions will improve. Rain will move out and clouds will gradually clear. It will still be windy tomorrow but not as strong as today. Most areas will see north winds at 10 to 20 with gusts to 30 mph. Winds will continue to relax on Friday.

Today: Mostly Cloudy, Scattered Showers (40%), Windy. Highs near 80. Winds: N 15-25 G35+

Tonight: Mostly Cloudy, Scattered Showers (30%), Windy. Lows in the low 70s. Winds: N 10-20 G30

Tomorrow: Clearing Skies, Windy. Highs in the low 80s. Winds: N 10-20 G30

Weather & Health 

Pollen: Low-Moderate (Ragweed, Grasses)

UV Index: 5 (Moderate)

Air Quality: Good (Code Green)

Mosquitoes: Extreme

Tropical Update

Maria back to a hurricane and starting to make a turn. Maria is centered about 165 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC and moving NNE at 6 mph. Maria is forecast to accelerate ENE on Thursday and Thursday night. On the forecast track, Maria will begin to move away from the coast of North Carolina later today and tonight.

Reports from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles primary to the northeast of the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.

11:00 AM EDT Wed Sep 27

Location: 35.6°N 72.6°W

Moving: NNE at 6 mph

Min pressure: 978 mb

Max sustained: 75 mph

Lee becomes the fifth major hurricane of the season. Hurricane Lee is centered about 485 miles ESE of Bermuda. Lee should turn to the north on Thursday and accelerate to the northeast on Friday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Lee is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

11:00 AM AST Wed Sep 27

Location: 30.6°N 56.8°W

Moving: NW at 7 mph

Min pressure: 963 mb

Max sustained: 115 mph

Hurricane Tracker

Today in Weather History (NWS Wakefield)

September 27th

1985 Hurricane Gloria: High winds, Heavy Rain – Eastern Shore, Southeast Virginia

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