Coastal flooding left parts of Norfolk, Virginia, under 1 to 2 feet of water Wednesday as a brewing nor’easter pushed seawater toward the coast. AccuWeather expects major flooding at high tides in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina through Friday.
On Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, a coastal flood warning was in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Friday night, with 2 to 4 feet of inundation forecast in vulnerable shoreline areas. Waves could reach 10 to 15 feet on Hatteras; repeated high tides could erode dunes and push water onto N.C. Highway 12. NCDOT said difficult driving and temporary closures were possible south of the Marc Basnight Bridge, particularly around high tide. More than 21 homes in communities along Highway 12 have collapsed into the sea over the past year.
The long-duration storm is expected to strengthen into a significant nor’easter off the Northeast coast by the weekend, with impacts reaching New England Friday and risks of damaging winds, beach erosion and power outages. The Harvest full moon arrives Saturday; astronomical tides are expected to build for several days, adding to the risk as storm winds push water into bays, inlets and tidal rivers.
