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First Warning Forecast: Hurricane Matthew’s impacts for Hampton Roads and NE North Carolina

Posted at 12:15 AM, Oct 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-07 00:15:11-04

Meteorologist April Loveland’s First Warning Forecast

Breezy conditions with some scattered showers overnight. These showers are not associated with Matthew. Lows overnight in the upper 60s.

Heading into Friday, expect mostly cloudy skies with some showers. Highs in the mid to upper 70s. We’ll continue to have gusty winds out of the NE, which means tidal flooding is possible. Rain from Hurricane Matthew will start to build up the East Coast on Friday and will reach Hampton Roads and Eastern NC Saturday and into Sunday.

Hurricane Matthew will approach the Florida Atlantic coast tonight and continue up the coast of Florida to South Carolina Friday and Saturday. Looks like we will see the heaviest rain here in Hampton Roads and NE North Carolina late Saturday into early Sunday.

Drier conditions will persist for Monday.

 

Hurricane Matthew impacts

Here is a look at what to expect this weekend as Matthew moves up the southeast coast…

(Note: This forecast to be fine-tuned and adjusted as Matthew gets closer)

  • Expect overall rainfall totals of 2-4 inches from Matthew with localize higher totals possible. Expect higher rainfall totals to the SE and lower totals to the NW. Most of the rain will fall Saturday and will taper off by midday Sunday.
  • Expect near tropical storm strength winds (40+ mph) for the southern Outer Banks. Hampton Roads and most of NE NC will experience strong winds but below TS strength. The strongest winds will be on Sunday.
  • Our saturated ground coupled with more rain and strong winds will increase our potential for falling trees and resulting power outages.
  • Minor to moderate coastal and tidal flooding with storm surge are expected over the next several days and through the weekend. Waves will build through Saturday and will be highest on Sunday.

Tonight: Mostly Cloudy with scattered showers (25%), Windy, with patchy fog possible. Lows in the mid 60s. Winds: NE 10-20 mph

Tomorrow: Mostly Cloudy with scattered showers (30%). Some patchy fog possible early. Windy. Highs in the mid to upper 70s. Winds: NE 10-20 mph

Tomorrow night: Cloudy with a chance of showers. Still windy. Lows in the mid to upper 60s. Winds: E 10-20 G25 mph

Weather & Health 

Pollen: Low-Moderate (Ragweed, Sagebrush)

UV Index: 5 (Moderate)

Air Quality: Good (Code Green)

Mosquitoes: Very High

Tropical Update

The eye of Hurricane Matthew is moving away from the Bahamas and toward the east coast of Florida. Matthew is still a category 4 hurricane located about 50 miles NNW of Freeport Grand Bahama Island or about 125 miles SE of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Sustained winds of 130 mph with higher gusts. Mathew is moving toward the northwest at 13 mph. A gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours. However, Matthew is expected to be a category 3 hurricane as it moves near the coast of Florida. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.

11:00 PM EDT Thu Oct 6

Location: 27.1°N 79.2°W

Moving: NW at 13 mph

Min pressure: 939 mb

Max sustained: 130 mph

Nicole has strengthened to a category 2 Hurricane.  Nicole is centered about 340 miles south of Bermuda and is currently stationary. The storm is expected to drift generally southward on Friday and Saturday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles.

11:00 PM AST Thu Oct 6

Location: 27.4°N 65.2°W

Moving: Stationary

Min pressure: 968 mb

Max sustained: 105 mph

Hurricane Tracker

 

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