THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 26, 1995 TAG: 9506260029
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Local highways had the look of a Friday afternoon rush hour on Sunday, thanks to severe thunderstorms that contributed to several accidents.
Getting around wasn't any easier on city streets in Norfolk and Virginia Beach as high water flooded several thoroughfares and forced police to close roads. Power outages that left traffic signals dark didn't help.
The storms built up through the afternoon and let loose about 3 p.m., spreading heavy rain from Norfolk through northern Virginia Beach and into Chesapeake.
As much as 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain fell in some areas. The storms were accompanied by frequent lightning and winds gusting from 30 to 40 mph.
The heavy rains quickly overwhelmed drainage systems, especially in low-lying areas, leaving numerous streets and some intersections flooded.
In Virginia Beach, for instance, police closed part of Providence Road near Military Highway after several vehicles stalled in high water. People in four-wheel drive vehicles helped push some of the flooded vehicles out.
In Norfolk, high water inundated access roads along North Military Highway, leaving some people stranded in businesses along the road.
By early evening, new storms developed along the Virginia-North Carolina border, producing torrential rains across Southampton County in Virginia and eastern Northampton, Hertford and Gates counties in North Carolina.
The National Weather Service estimated that between 2 and 2 1/2 inches of rain fell from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. between the towns of Murfreesboro and Ahoskie in Hertford County.
There's a continuing chance of more rain today through midweek.
Today should be cloudy in the morning, turning partly sunny in the afternoon with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high will be near 90. The chance of rain is 40 percent.
Tuesday should be mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The high will be in the mid-80s. ILLUSTRATION: Color drawing
KEYWORDS: RAINFALL by CNB