Rising tides are flooding roads and yards across Virginia and Maryland this week. Strong northeast winds are pushing extra water into the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
The NWS Wakefield office and the NWS Baltimore/Washington office both issued Coastal Flood Advisories. Both offices also posted Coastal Flood Watches for later this week.
Hampton Roads Sees the Widest Flooding
Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Hampton/Poquoson are under a Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM Wednesday. Up to one foot of water could cover low areas.
A Coastal Flood Watch follows Wednesday afternoon through late Thursday night. This time, one to three feet of inundation is possible. That’s enough to flood many roads and reach some homes and businesses.
Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore
Virginia Beach faces the same advisory and watch timeline. A High Surf Advisory also kicks in Wednesday morning, with breaking waves up to 12 feet.
A Beach Hazards Statement warns of a high risk of rip currents through Wednesday evening. Swimmers should stay close to lifeguards, if they enter the water at all.
On the Eastern Shore, Accomack and Northampton counties share that same rip current and surf risk. Their Coastal Flood Advisory runs from this afternoon through 4 PM Wednesday.
Rivers Feeding the Bay Also Rise
Flooding isn’t just a beach problem this week. Tidal rivers across Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck are rising too.
Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland, Lancaster, Middlesex, Mathews and both parts of Essex County are under advisory until 5 AM Wednesday. Their watch then stretches from late tonight all the way through Friday morning, with up to three feet of water possible.
New Kent, Gloucester, York, and the eastern parts of King William and King and Queen counties face a similar setup. Their watch also allows for up to three feet of inundation Wednesday into Thursday night.
Further west, Surry, James City, Newport News and Isle of Wight counties saw their advisory begin Tuesday evening. Forecasters say two to three feet of flooding is possible once the watch takes over Wednesday morning.
Maryland’s Coast: Ocean City to St. Mary’s
Inland Worcester County, near Ocean City, is under the same advisory and watch as the Virginia Eastern Shore. Up to two feet of flooding is possible by Thursday night.
Down the Chesapeake, St. Mary’s County got its own advisory from NWS Baltimore/Washington. Forecasters say water could reach a foot and a half above ground by Wednesday evening.
Specific impacts are already mapped out. Roads on Saint George Island will flood, and yards near town will fill with water. Marinas along the St. Mary’s River, Smith Creek and Jutland Creek will see rising water too.
Calvert County’s advisory runs even longer, until 2 PM Thursday. Backyards near 9th Street in North Beach are expected to flood. In Solomons, yards and parking lots near Charles and Williams streets could see more than half a foot of standing water.
What Residents Should Do
Don’t drive around barricades. Water of unknown depth can hide a washed-out road.
Give yourself extra time if you must travel near the coast this week. Roads flood fastest right around high tide.
Move anything flood-prone to higher ground now. That includes cars, outdoor furniture, and anything stored in a low garage or shed.
Check tide times for your area before heading out. High tide is when the worst flooding hits, and it repeats every 12 hours through Thursday night.
Track your local tide gauge at water.noaa.gov/wfo/akq or water.noaa.gov/wfo/lwx.
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