Wind and rain are on the way
Gusts could reach 50 mph in coastal areas
The National Weather Service in Wakefield warns of gusty winds over the weekend, mainly in coastal areas.
Jeff Orrock, Meteorologist in Charge at the Wakefield office, said the region is expected to get moderate to heavy rain as soon as this morning. Southeast winds will increase, gusting to 25 to 35 mph, with higher speeds likely being near the coast. Winds will become northwesterly Sunday, with peak gusts around 35 mph inland and near 50 mph along the Chesapeake Bay, coast and northeast North Carolina.
“There was a cold front that pushed through (Wednesday) night, and we did have some little increase in winds last night almost gusting to about 30 to 35 miles an hour, especially in the east,” Orrock said. “There’s high pressure holding on for us, but you do start to see the system moving across the South of the U.S., and it’s going to gradually start to intensify and start to move up towards the coast.”
Up to 3 to 4 inches of rain is possible, with the highest amounts east of Interstate 95 to the coast and Eastern Shore. In Norfolk, the weather service estimates between 1 and 1½, and rainfall in Williamsburg could total 2 inches through Sunday morning. Minor coastal flooding is likely across the northern Albemarle Sound as well as the Chesapeake Bay and tidal rivers today and into Sunday.
“The good news is with all the fires going on in the West, we are expecting a good bit of rainfall statewide,” Orrock said. “This will help with the fuel moisture. Temperatures are also going to be dropping which also helps fire behavior so this should help the crews.
“We are looking at a widespread decent rain event across the entire state, and the eastern half is really where we’re going to see that the bulk of the heaviest rainfall — in the eastern half of the Commonwealth.”
The Cherry Blossom Festival events scheduled for today and Sunday in Virginia Beach were canceled because of the forecast. The festival will continue as planned from Monday through Saturday at Red Wing Park.
The Hampton government announced today’s reopening ceremony for Hampton’s historic carousel has been postponed, though it will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today with free rides regardless of weather.
The official ceremony and celebration is now set for 11 a.m. April 6 and will include a food truck rodeo, children’s activities, entertainment, free rodeo hats, and free carousel rides.