Sandy will cruise the Caribbean the next few days. The exact track of the storm next week will determine the impact in the Norfolk and Virginia Tidewater.
Indeed, it will seem like the weather in southeastern Virginia, is on a tropical vacation this week with warmth and spotty thunderstorms.
The period of consternation and concern for potential damaging weather and disruptive impacts on the East Coast of the United States spans Friday of this week to Wednesday of next week.
A hurricane or hybrid storm remaining well offshore would have minimal direct impact on the Norfolk, area. Most likely, cool air, stiff breezes and rough seas would sweep in with spotty showers in this scenario.
However, there is a danger of the storm being captured and pulled westward by another system approaching from the Midwest next week. Sandy would undergo a transition from a hurricane to a hybrid or non-tropical system, but the storm would retain every bit of a hurricane's intensity.
Such a westward curve could potentially bring far worse wind and coastal flooding problems, when compared to Irene in 2011 in terms of New England. Hurricane-force gusts would sweep inland downing scores trees and causing widespread power outages. The combination of heavy rain and fallen leaves would lead to significant flash and urban flooding. There would be travel disruptions matching that of a giant nor'easter.
The storm would have to turn inland sharply over Virginia and North Carolina for the worse-case scenario effect, or another Isabel over the Chesapeake Bay region. Essentially the area would have to get on the storm's eastern and northeastern flank to have the worst of the wind, rain and tidal effects. Such a path seems unlikely at this time.
However, a northward track close to the coast into next week is higher on the realm of possibilities and would have nasty effects in terms of wind, rain surf and coastal flooding on the Eastern Shore and in the Norfolk area.
Another scenario allows Sandy to escape out to sea but forms a new storm near the coast with more typical nor'easter conditions later in the period next week. Such a storm would have far less impact on the Tidewater.
Don't expect another Isabel, but it could get rough for a time Sunday into Tuesday, if the storm hugs the coast.
Thumbnail image by Photos.com.
The same system that spawned deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma will reach the Northeast on Thursday.
With one day remaining before Memorial Day weekend, the Sandy-battered Jersey coastline is hustling to finish last-minute preparations.
The Memorial Day weekend will begin cool, windy and rainy in New England and part of the mid-Atlantic.
Thunderstorms will slow cleanup efforts in Moore, Okla., into the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Join us as we discuss the severe storm threat in the Northeast Thursday and the wet weather lingering into the Memorial Day weekend.
GOES-East failed again late Tuesday. It is one of the main satellites meteorologists use for the eastern part of the United States and the tropical Atlantic.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Fresno, CA (2001)
Six 100+ degree days this month. This broke
the old May record of five days set in May
1889.
New Hampshire (1814)
Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and
North Chester, NH; Tornado and hailstones
with 11-inch circumference weighing 1/2
pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly
totals topped 11 inches at New York City,
9 inches at Bridgeport, CT and 8 inches at
Baltimore (all three records for May).
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