Hampton Roads is bracing for what could be widespread coastal flooding this weekend, with forecasters warning that parts of Norfolk could see one to three feet of water above ground level in vulnerable areas. In response, the city is opening a downtown parking garage so residents can move their vehicles to higher ground before the worst of it arrives.
The National Weather Service in Wakefield briefed emergency officials that widespread coastal flooding may develop across Hampton Roads this weekend, according to pilotonline.com. Forecasters say major flooding is possible Monday, with one to three feet of water above ground level expected in low-lying, flood-prone spots. Norfolk itself is expected to see major flooding, while the rest of Hampton Roads is forecast to see more moderate flooding, per the same report.
Wind will be a factor well before the heaviest flooding hits. A wind advisory is in effect from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday for Virginia Beach and the northern Outer Banks, with northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 45 to 50 mph expected, the outlet reports. Those sustained northeast winds matter for tidal flooding specifically because they push water in from the Atlantic Ocean and down the Chesapeake Bay, according to WAVY.com.
WAVY’s Earlier September Tide Forecast
WAVY's weather team said in a September 26 post that Saturday morning's high tide that weekend was expected to reach moderate to major flood stage across much of the region, potentially putting water into low-lying coastal streets and neighborhoods. That forecast was for the September weekend, not Saturday, October 17.
Norfolk Opens York Street Garage to Residents
To help residents get ahead of the rising water, Norfolk officials are opening the York Street Garage for anyone looking to move a vehicle out of a flood-prone area, according to wtkr.com. The garage sits at 215 W. York Street and includes electric charging stations for Norfolk residents, the station reports.
As first reported by WAVY.com, Hampton Roads overall is facing potential tidal flooding this stretch, and the parking garage option is meant to give residents a way to protect their cars without having to ride out the surge in place. The same outlet reports that Norfolk residents are being encouraged to sign up for Norfolk Alert to receive emergency updates as the situation develops.
Hampton Roads has leaned on similar arrangements before when tidal flooding and heavy wind threatened the region. During an earlier weather event tied to a king tide, the City of Norfolk opened the York Street Garage to residents from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a Sunday, while York County made the Chisman Creek Park and McReynolds Athletic Complex parking lots available so residents could move property out of low-lying areas, according to WAVY's report on that episode. That same stretch of weather also brought forecasts of 30 to 40 mph winds as the remnants of a tropical system moved through the region, the outlet noted at the time.
