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Blog: Offshore low produces wind, tidal flooding

We are lucky that an offshore low isn’t closer to our region today. However, it will be strong enough and close enough to impact our weather. Today we have the low strengthening offshore with an area of high pressure anchored to our northwest.

Regional Weather Map

We’ve been talking about this pattern for days, but it’s here today. The low will move offshore some more during the day, but it will also strengthen more. Meanwhile, the high pressure to our northwest is pretty locked into place.


Future Trak (This Afternoon)

The difference in pressure between the two systems will force the winds to pick up out of the northwest today. Winds will gusts up to 25mph. There will be some gusts between 30-35mph. A couple of gusts to 40mph will be possible closer to Hatteras.

Wind Gust Forecast
Wind Gust Forecast

Luckily we’ll stay pretty dry today. We’ll have partly sunny skies. Though I can’t rule out a sprinkle or two coming in off of the ocean. High temps will make it to the mid 40s, but the wind chills will be in the 30s through the afternoon.

Temperatures VS Wind Chills

By tomorrow the low will be all the way out towards Bermuda. High pressure will edge east just a little bit.

Future Trak (Wednesday)

So we’ll have some gusty winds in the morning, but the winds will die down by the afternoon.

Wind Gusts Tomorrow

We’ll have fair skies tomorrow. However, high temps will only make it to the mid 40s again.

Forecast Temps Tomorrow

We did have some minor tidal flooding this morning. The high tide made it to about 4.88ft at Sewell’s Point. The next high tide won’t be as high, but some nuisance to minor tidal flooding will be possible.

https://digital-staging.wavy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Norfolk-Colonial-Place-High-Tide-Feb-6.mp4
Tidal flooding in the area of Colonial Place in Norfolk during high tide (WAVY Video: Jane Alvarez-Wertz).
Tide Forecast: Sewell’s Point

This goes for most areas. However, tomorrow morning the high tide will rise even more. So Hampton Roads will have some solid minor tidal flooding. It could even get close to moderate in a few locations. The Outer Banks high tide will likely be moderate.

High Tide Forecast

This will create some ocean overwash along highway 12.

Overwash Forecast

By Thursday the weather will improve greatly! High pressure will build in fully. So we’ll have mostly sunny skies with high temps in the low 50s.

Temperature Trend

We’ll rise to near 60 on Friday with fair skies. Then we’ll be in the low-mid 60s on Saturday. There may be some isolated showers later in the day Saturday, but I think the bulk of the day will be nice. There will be some rain on Sunday, but high temps will still be mild.

Stay tuned for updates.

Meteorologist: Jeremy Wheeler