210 FXUS61 KAKQ 271947 AFDAKQAREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Wakefield VA 347 PM EDT Sat Sep 27 2025
.SYNOPSIS... Widespread rain continues across the area through this afternoon before tapering off overnight. Tropical Depression Nine is expected to become a hurricane as it tracks north off the Southeast coast through Tuesday. While the center of the low is not expected to be near the local area, rain from the system is expected to overspread the local area Monday into Tuesday. However, uncertainity remains high regarding rainfall totals given uncertainties regarding the exact track of the system. High pressure builds in by late week with cooler and drier weather likely.
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.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... As of 345 PM EDT Saturday...
Key Message:
- A Flood Watch remains in effect across the eastern half of the area today. Localized totals of 2-5" of rain in a short period of time are possible.
Afternoon surface analysis depicted an upper level low centered over the deep south, allowing for favorable isentropic ascent overtop of a stationary front located across far S VA. PW values this afternoon were 1.9-2.1" across SE VA and NE NC. Given the favorable synoptic ascent, widespread moderate to locally heavy showers continue across the area. These showers have already prompted several Flash Flood Warnings across south central VA earlier today and still pose the risk of some isolated to scattered Flash Flooding, especially along the stationary front where a focal point for convection is located. A widespread swath of 1-3" (locally 3-5") has already fallen (indicated by MRMS) generally along the I-95 corridor. As such, the Flood Watch has been expanded W to include Brunswick County north to Henrico County and NE across the Northern Neck as well as Northampton County, VA where heavy rain was observed earlier this morning. For the remainder of E/SE VA, the Flood Watch remains in effect until midnight. While CAMs have had a poor handle on the convection this morning, the 12z HREF continues to show a 30% chance for 3" of rain in 3 hours across areas under the Flood Watch later this afternoon into this evening. As such, additional flooding is possible across the watch area through this evening. Rain tapers off from SW to NE this evening into tonight, potentially lingering across the Eastern Shore through tonight. WPC has expanded a Slight ERO (excessive rainfall outlook) to include the entire FA, however, the best chance for flooding remains across the flood watch area.
Otherwise, temps as of 3 PM ranged from around 70F across central VA to the lower 80s across SE VA/NE NC. Afternoon highs today will only be in the low-mid 70s across central VA with mid-upper 70s across far S VA and the Eastern Shore and lower 80s across far SE VA/NE NC. Lows tonight in the low to mid 60s inland and upper 60s along the coast are expected.
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.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 345 PM EDT Saturday...
Key Messages:
- A few isolated showers are possible Sunday across far SE VA/NE NC.
- Rain chances increase Monday into Tuesday as the outer rain bands from Tropical Depression Nine (expected to become Hurricane Imelda) overspread the region.
- Breezy NE winds are expected Tuesday, especially along the coast where gusts up to around 30 mph are possible.
Aloft, the upper level trough weakens Sun across the Southeast. At the surface, the stationary front slowly moves south as a cold front. As such, PoPs have decreased for Sun with only a slight chance (15-20% PoPs) for a few isolated showers across far SE VA/NE NC during the afternoon. Will note that a few light showers may linger across the Eastern Shore early Sun morning. Otherwise, most remain dry Sun under partly to mostly cloudy skies (highest cloud cover SE and the most sun NW).
Tropical Depression Nine is expected to become Hurricane Imelda by Tue morning as it moves N off the Southeast coast. Recent model trends have been for a more western track which would take the system closer to the FL coastline. However, most model guidance now shows the system stalling off the GA/SC coast Tue before moving east out to sea Wed into late week as a strong area of high pressure begins to build into New England from Canada. As such, confidence in locally heavy rainfall has decreased across the local area given how far displaced the FA is from the center of the system. Nevertheless, the outer rain bands from the system are still expected to move into at least southern portions of the FA Mon into Tue (PoPs increase to 50-60% along and south of I-64 with 15-40% PoPs north of I-64). Rainfall totals are currently forecast to be around 1-1.5" across far S VA/NE NC with 0.5-1" across most of the area south of I-64. However, given some lingering uncertainties regarding the exact track of Tropical Depression Nine, WPC has maintained a marginal ERO (excessive rainfall outlook) for southern portions of the area both Mon and Tue. Locally heavy flooding and localized flooding continue to be the main concerns.
Apart from the rain, the gradient winds increase well north of the center of Tropical Depression Nine Tue. NE winds gusting to ~20 mph inland across SE VA/NE NC and up to ~30 mph along the coast of Virginia Beach and Currituck are possible. Otherwise, highs in the mid-upper 70s (most in the upper 70s) Sun and Mon with low-mid 70s Tue are expected. Lows remain above normal in the 60s each night.
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.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 345 PM EDT Saturday...
Key Messages:
- Cooler, drier weather is expected by late week.
- Breezy conditions are expected Wed and Thu with gusts up to 40 mph possible along the SE VA/NE NC coast.
The remnants of Tropical Depression Nine are expected to move east, well offshore by late week. Meanwhile, a strong area of high pressure builds SE into the Mid-Atlantic and New England. As such, cooler, drier weather is expected. Highs in the lower 70s Wed, upper 60s Thu, upper 60s to lower 70s Fri, and lower 70s Sat are expected. However, will note that while most model guidance takes the remnants of Tropical Depression Nine out to sea, the EURO stalls the system and takes the remnants back into the Carolinas Sat behind the high. While this is a low possibility with little ensemble support, it cannot be ruled out. Regardless of the exact track of the low, the gradient winds increase Wed into Thu given the pressure gradient between the high to the north and low to the south. NE winds gusting up to 40 mph Wed and 30-35 mph Thu are expected along the coast with gusts up to 20-25 mph possible inland. The gradient wind lingers through late week across SE VA/NE NC with gusty winds possible along the coast through Fri.
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.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 155 PM EDT Saturday...
Widespread showers continue to spread across the region this afternoon with locally heavy rain and IFR VIS possible through the afternoon into early this evening. Showers taper off from SW to NE this evening into tonight. Will note that a few thunderstorms are possible at ORF/ECG late this afternoon, but otherwise, most of the convection should remain showers. CIGs were mainly MVFR apart from some IFR inland. IFR CIGs are possible at RIC between now and 21z, SBY from 22-00z, PHF ~3z, and ~6z at ORF. Confidence is lower at ORF/ECG in IFR CIGs tonight. As such, have kept CIG MVFR at ECG until 11z Sun, but IFR CIGs are possible earlier. Additionally, patchy fog is possible overnight. CIGs improve to MVFR by Sun afternoon.
Outlook: Sub-VFR CIGs likely linger across the terminals Sun. There is a low chance for a few showers across SE VA/NE NC Sun. Periods of sub-VFR conditions are possible through the week with rain chances increasing Mon.
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.MARINE... As of 305 AM EDT Saturday...
- Sub-SCA through the weekend, with scattered showers and storms today and Saturday.
- Deteriorating conditions and building NE winds are likely from for the first half of next week. Continue to monitor the forecast and the latest information from the National Hurricane Center regarding the progress of Humberto and Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (formerly Invest 94L).
Latest analysis reveals a surface cold front just south of the local waters early this morning. Weak high pressure remains well offshore, with a second area of high pressure well off to the NW. Winds remain light out of the E-NE ~5-10kt. Seas 2ft and waves are 1ft or less.
The front nudges offshore this morning. Additional multiple waves of showers/thunderstorms are expected today, moving NNE along the stalled front and lifting it back north as a warm front. winds veer around to the SSE this afternoon and evening over the lower bay and central and southern waters. Showers and storms eventually weaken as the front becomes a bit more diffuse with time tonight and Sunday, with winds veering back around to the NNW tomorrow ~10kt. Seas 2-3 ft, waves 1-2 ft.
Attention then turns to the former AL94, now known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, and quite possibly soon to be Tropical Cyclone Imelda. By any name, there remains a fair amount of spread amongst the deterministic and multi-model ensembles regarding the handling of this system. At this time, solutions range from a landfall over the coastal Carolinas to keeping the system offshore. If the latter were to occur, it would be largely due to the influence of powerful Hurricane Humberto out in the central Atlantic. The latest NHC track for Humberto shows the system increasing speed NW and remaining well offshore, though in any scenario, Humberto will send increasingly strong long- period swell toward the local waters for much of the first half of next week, which will quickly build seas Monday through midweek. Strong high pressure building to the north will lock in a prolonged period of elevated NE winds and high surf across our area due to the tightening pressure gradient and incoming strong E-SE swell. NE winds pick up to 15-20kt Monday and Monday night with seas increasing AOA 4-5ft. Winds and seas increase further Tues into Wed with increasing potential for gale force gusts Wed afternoon and evening.
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.AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...None. NC...None. VA...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for VAZ075>090-092-093- 095>098-100-512>525. MARINE...None.
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SYNOPSIS...RMM NEAR TERM...RMM SHORT TERM...RMM LONG TERM...RMM AVIATION...RMM MARINE...MAM
NWS AKQ Office Area Forecast Discussion