Norfolk, Virginia – Residents along the Mid-Atlantic coast should prepare for a significant flash flooding threat today and Thursday as repeated rounds of heavy rain target the Virginia and North Carolina Tidewater, where numerous flash floods are possible.
According to the NOAA Weather Prediction Center, a Moderate Risk (Level 3 of 4) for excessive rainfall is in effect today across portions of the Virginia Tidewater before shifting south into coastal North Carolina on Thursday. A nearly stationary frontal boundary is expected to focus repeated thunderstorms over the same locations, increasing the likelihood of training storms capable of producing several inches of rain in a short period.
The highest flood threat includes communities from the Hampton Roads region through northeastern North Carolina, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Elizabeth City and surrounding coastal communities. Urban areas, neighborhoods with poor drainage and low-lying roads will be especially vulnerable to rapid flooding if storms repeatedly move over the same locations.
A broader Slight Risk (Level 2 of 4) for excessive rainfall extends across much of the Southeast and central Appalachians, where scattered flash flooding is also possible.
Residents should closely monitor weather alerts throughout the day, have multiple ways to receive Flash Flood Warnings and avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain. Never drive or walk through flooded roadways, as water depth and road damage are often impossible to judge.
The greatest concern continues through Thursday, with the flood threat shifting farther south into coastal North Carolina as the frontal boundary gradually sags toward the Carolinas. Additional Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are likely as heavy rainfall develops.
