Team Norfolk,
Team – Please see the NWS brief with the following threats emphasized:
- Significant disruptions to travel are possible, especially for Eastern Virginia and Northeast North Carolina where as much as 6-12" of snow accumulation is possible.
- Heavy snow combined with high winds (gusts to 40 to 50 mph) may result in blowing and drifting snow, mainly near the coast.
- Minor to locally moderate coastal flooding along portions of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean coastlines.
- Gale conditions are likely for the coastal waters.
During this afternoon’s conference call with VDEM and the NWS, Norfolk is currently forecasted to receive 4-6” of snow, with a 40% chance of 8” and a 1 in 10 chance of 13”. Click here for probabilities. Looking at the Hourly Graph for Friday / Saturday, the transition from rain to snow is expected to occur around 9 pm to 11 pm Friday night. While the system should be gone by noon Saturday, the temperatures fall below freezing overnight Friday night and remain there until sometime Sunday afternoon. Furthermore, this snow will be wetter, heavier snow than last weekend. It is important to note that wet, heavier snow will be more difficult to plow and will require more time than light, fluffier snow. This wet, heavier snow mixed with freezing temperatures and wind gusts upward of 40mph could result in broken tree limbs and downed power lines. Finally, the Sewell’s Point Tide Chart is still showing a high tide in the ‘minor flood’ stage Saturday morning which can cause nuisance ponding in some areas. The NWS reports they expect the evening high tide to also be elevated, but not to the level we should expect to see in the morning.
Our Community Services Board and partner agencies have not really relaxed their posture since last weekend. They understand the need for our residents experiencing homelessness and continue to meet it. Public Works is also already engaged in preparing their salt, sand, and brine supplies, their equipment, and staffing for their response.
We’ll continue to monitor and remain in touch with NWS, VDEM, and VDOT. In the meantime, if you have any questions, comments, or resource needs, please send them to EOC-Plans@norfolk.gov.
Thank you!
Jim Redick, Director
Norfolk Emergency Preparedness and Response