A tropical storm will bring up to four inches of rain and windy conditions to Virginia starting tonight.
The wet, windy conditions will bring much-needed moisture to the state through Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Eight, which may be named Helene some time today, will move ashore today near Myrtle Beach, S.C., and then move northwest and diminish in intensity. The persistent onshore winds will cause rough surf, rip currents and beach erosion for coastal areas through mid-week.
The Virginia Beach and Outer Banks area will experience onshore winds gusting to 40 to 60 mph causing extensive beach erosion and coastal flooding.
“It’s a pretty good bet the entire state will receive at least one to two inches of rain with many areas receiving two to four inches of rain,” said Thomas Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “The highest amounts of rain will probably be in the Virginia Beach area and the Outer Banks. Those folks can receive a half a foot of rain.”
As with most tropical systems, there may be pockets of very heavy rain away from the concentrated area of heavy rain.
The Shenandoah Valley including Rockingham and Augusta counties remain in a drought. Tropical Storm Debby brought much-needed rain to the state in August, but it wasn’t enough to lift the drought warning in the Shenandoah and Big Sandy regions of the state.
“Most of the state can handle a couple of inches of rain without any problems but those places that get three or more inches can experience flooding,” Kines said. “I know the Shenandoah Valley needs the rain, but there could be a price to pay if we get too much of a good thing.”
Areas prone to flooding during heavy rain events should especially be alert and be ready to take action, Kines said.
AccuWeather: Tropical impact, wind gusts
Update: Virginia Beach, OBX forecast amended
Updated Monday, 10:23 a.m.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Thomas Kines provided an update to the storm: “The heaviest rain has trended south overnight so while we still think there can be a widespread one to two inches across the state and in some areas two to four inches, the probabilities of getting six inches in the Virginia Beach and Outer Banks area has diminished.
“Also, the window of opportunity for this system getting named is closing. Whether it gets named or not before making landfall, we think the impacts will be the same.”
Update: New impact maps
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Crystal Graham
