Mid Atlantic coastal discussion, early evening 3-10-04

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good evening everyone. Low pressure continues to deepen explosively off the North Carolina coast this evening. By tonight, the central pressure should be at or slightly below 992 millibars just off the Mid Atlantic coast. As a result of that, huge waves, swells, and very strong winds are expected along the Middle Atlantic coast. The following is a breakdown state by state along the Mid Atlantic coast as to the significant coastal effects from this storm.

Starting along the North Carolina coast, gale warnings are up for the entire outer banks including Pamilco and Albemarle Sounds where north winds of 35-40 knots are expected to occur tonight into early Thursday. In the northern Outer Banks including Currituck Beach Light, coastal flood warning is in effect. Coastal overwash is likely on highway 12 in the northern outer banks tonight, especially in areas where they don't have coastal dunes to protect the highway and the properties.

Further north along the Virginia coast, the situation gets worse as winds are expected to be even stronger and coastal tides even higher tonight through early Thursday. For the Atlantic coastal waters of Virginia, storm warning is in effect, heavy surf advisory is in effect and a coastal flood warning is in effect for northern Virginia Beach and for the southern Chesapeake Bay. Meanwhile gale warnings are up for the southern Chesapeake Bay as north winds gust to storm force overnight. North winds of 40-50 knots with gusts possibly to 60 knots are likely tonight along the tidewater area of Virginia only to affect coastal sections. Inland areas will see windy conditions, but not as strong as in coastal areas. The effects are still likely to be significant as there could be tidal surge, high waves, occasional heavy rain squalls, and power outages in spots.

Further north along the Maryland coast, coastal flooding and storm force winds are expected tonight for Ocean City, MD and Assateague Island, MD and also in Chicoteague, Virginia. The following are the next high tides for the Maryland and Virginia coastal sections

THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE AT SEWELLS POINT IS AT 1152 PM TONIGHT AND
1214 PM THURSDAY AFTERNOON...WITH AN EXPECTED HEIGHT OF 5.5 FEET
MLLW. AREAS FROM NORFOLK TO PORTSMOUTH AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA
BEACH WILL LIKELY SEE MINOR COASTAL FLOODING. MINOR FLOODING BEGINS
AT 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER.

THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE AT OCEAN CITY IS AT 1014 PM TONIGHT...WITH AN
EXPECTED HEIGHT OF AROUND 7.0 FEET MLLW. AREAS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE ARE AREAS OF WEST OCEAN CITY AROUND THE ISLE OF WIGHT
BAY...ALONG THE OCEAN GATEWAY HIGHWAY 50...AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF
COASTAL HIGHWAY 528.

A coastal flood warning is in effect for the Maryland beaches. Tides of 2-3 feet above normal are expected tonight. Storm warning is also in effect. Expect northeast winds to switch around towards the north and increase from 40-45 knots to 50 knots overnight tonight with gusts possibly to 60 knots. Seas of 18 feet are expected tonight into early Thursday morning with nearshore waves possibly up to 10-15 feet. Heavy surf advisory is also in effect as a result of those high waves.

Storm warning is also in effect tonight through early Thursday for the Delaware and New Jersey beaches up to Little Egg Inlet where winds are expected to gust to 50 knots overnight with 10-15 foot seas.

Offshore waters from Baltimore Canyon to Hatteras Canyon are underneath hurricane force warnings where sustained winds of 50-65 knots are expected tonight with offshore seas 20-250 nm off the Mid Atlantic coast of 8-25 feet with 30 foot seas in the gulf stream.

A very interesting night coming up for the Mid Atlantic coast. All interests along the Mid Atlantic coast should pay extra attention to the weather conditions and prepare to evacuate coastal property if neccessary or if you feel a threat coming on. The main threat along the Mid Atlantic coast tonight from southern New Jersey to northeast North Carolina is high winds of 40-60 knots and coastal flooding with tides 2-3 feet above normal with possibly higher tidal departures in isolated areas at timesof high tide tonight.

Jim

[Stephanie]

The winds were really whipping around down in Atlantic City!

[WXBUFFJIM]

The winds were really whipping around down in Atlantic City!

If only I was there right now, LOL. I was in Atlantic City in February of '03 about 2 weeks after the presidents day storm and there was snow on the ground and a gale center off the coast. We had big waves and 40 mph winds on the boardwalk. I was at the resort in Atlantic City. The steel pier is right there also I do believe if I'm correct.

Jim