Meteorologist Myles Henderson’s First Warning Forecast
*** A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the coast from South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
*** A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the coast from South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border, including the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.
*** Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM Tuesday for Virginia Beach, Accomack, Northampton; until 4 PM for Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Poquoson, Newport News, York, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex. “Minor” level flooding is expected near times of high tide.
Hurricane Florence approaching later this week… Highs will return to the upper 80s this afternoon but it will feel more like the mid 90s with the humidity. We will see a mix of partly to mostly cloudy skies today with scattered showers and storms as a cold front lingers to our west. Severe storms are not expected but thunderstorms and heavy downpours are possible.
We will see partly cloudy skies Wednesday with another chance for scattered showers and storms. Highs will reach the mid to upper 80s tomorrow.
Hurricane Florence will approach the Carolina coastline on Thursday. Based on the current forecast track, we will see widespread rain and very strong winds on Thursday and Friday. Significant flooding is expected with several inches of rainfall combined with coastal flooding and storm surge.
Based on the current forecast track, here is what to expect…
Rain
Most of the area will see 5” to 10” of rain over several days (Thursday-Sunday)
Many inland locations will see 10” to 15” of rain
Locally higher totals are possible
Wind
Winds will ramp up on Thursday, stay strong through Friday, then slowly relax through the weekend.
Peak winds (sustained at tropical storm force, gusts to near hurricane force)
Hatteras: 45-55 G70+
Elizabeth City: 35-45 G60+
Virginia Beach: 35-45 G60+
Franklin: 25-35 G50+
Williamsburg: 25-35 G45+
Melfa: 25-35 G45+
Storm Surge
Peak storm surge: 3’ to 5’
Tornado
Storm track is favorable for isolated tornadoes in NE NC and SE VA
Waves
Swells from Florence will impact a large section of the East Coast and are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions
Florence will weaken once over land but will linger over the Virginia and the Carolinas this weekend. Winds will slowly relax over the weekend but widespread rain will keep the flooding threat high.
Today: Mix of Clouds, Scattered Showers/Storms (40%). Highs in the upper 80s. Winds: S/SE 5-10
Tonight: Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers/Storms (30%). Lows in the mid 70s. Winds: SE 5-10
Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers/Storms (30%). Highs in the upper 80s. Winds: E 5-15
Weather & Health
Pollen: Moderate (Ragweed)
UV Index: 8 (Very High)
Air Quality: Good (Code Green)
Mosquitoes: Extreme
Today in Weather History (NWS Wakefield)
September 11th
1883 Heavy Rain: 2.66″ Norfolk
Tropical Update
Florence expected to re-strengthen later today. Florence is centered about 390 miles south of Bermuda and moving WNW at 16 mph. A WNW to NW motion with a slight increase in forward speed are expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas through Wednesday. Florence will approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina in the hurricane watch area Thursday and Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph with higher gusts. Florence is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Florence is expected to begin re-strengthening later today and continue a slow strengthening trend for the next day or so. While some weakening is expected on Thursday, Florence is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane through landfall.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles.
11:00 AM AST Tue Sep 11
Location: 26.7°N 65.3°W
Moving: WNW at 16 mph
Min pressure: 950 mb
Max sustained: 130 mph
Hurricane Tracker
Hurricane Helene turning NW over the eastern Atlantic. Helene is centered about 670 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and moving NW at 12 mph. This motion is expected to continue today with a turn toward the NNW and north.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 110 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening should begin tonight, and Helene is forecast to become a tropical storm on Thursday.
11:00 AM AST Tue Sep 11
Location: 16.5°N 34.3°W
Moving: NW at 12 mph
Min pressure: 966 mb
Max sustained: 110 mph
Tropical Storm Isaac is centered about 775 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and moving west at 16 mph. On the forecast track Isaac is anticipated to move near or over the central Lesser Antilles on Thursday and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea Thursday night.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 70 mph with higher gusts. Isaac is expected to be near hurricane strength when it moves through the central Lesser Antilles, with some weakening forecast afterward on Friday.
11:00 AM AST Tue Sep 11
Location: 14.6°N 49.7°W
Moving: W at 16 mph
Min pressure: 996 mb
Max sustained: 70 mph
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