THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120302
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
A coastal storm that pummeled Florida earlier this week is expected to bring rain and gale-force winds to Hampton Roads today.
A heavy-surf advisory, along with coastal flooding and storm warnings, was in effect.
Forecasters said the northeaster was to brush the North Carolina Outer Banks and the Virginia coast late Monday night or early today. They warned of hazardous tides, heavy surf and some beach erosion.
Today should be cloudy and extremely windy with periods of showers and temperatures in the 40s.
``We're looking at light rainfall,'' said Hugh Cobb, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wakefield. ``Basically it will be a windy . . . cloudy day.''
The gale-force, north-northeast winds may reach 40 to 45 mph along the Virginia coast and up to 55 mph - or storm force - off North Carolina near Cape Hatteras.
The winds were stirred up in an area between the storm's low-pressure system and a high-pressure system sitting over southern New England.
Virginia Beach officials on Monday began a beach survey to prepare for the possibility of erosion.
``The Oceanfront is in good shape,'' said Phillip Roehrs, a coastal engineer for the city. ``There are problem areas at Sandbridge.''
He said engineers would track beach conditions and prepare to address problems as they arise.
Gale-force winds, heavy rains and high tides battered Florida's east coast on Monday, causing minor flooding, eroding some beaches and washing away part of a fishing pier at Flagler Beach.
Tides ran 2 to 3 feet above normal and there was some severe beach erosion, dangerous riptides and rough seas. Waves 10 to 14 feet high battered the beaches, while students on spring break took refuge in their hotels.
Strong wind toppled a number of trees in the Daytona Beach area Sunday night.
By Monday afternoon, the storm was making itself known off North Carolina. The Coast Guard airlifted two people off a 41-foot sailboat near Cape Hatteras when high winds and rough seas endangered the vessel.
The winds and rain should ease by late tonight or early Wednesday, Cobb said.
Tides could be as high as 2 to 3 feet above normal. Minor flooding could occur in areas such as Norfolk's Ocean View, Willoughby and downtown, and in downtown Portsmouth - all areas typically affected by heavy storms.
The amount of beach erosion depends on how quickly the storm leaves the area, Cobb said.
Today may be gusty and gray, but conditions should improve as the week moves on:
Today: Very windy with showers likely. Highs in the lower to mid-40s. Northeast winds 30 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
Tonight: Very windy with a chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s. North winds 30 to 40 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Wednesday: Breezy. A chance of morning showers, then clearing. Highs in the mid- to upper 40s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
The rest of the week: Partly sunny skies, with temperatures climbing into the upper 50s and 60s. A chance of thunderstorms near the end of the week. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot
In Kitty Hawk, N.C., where beach overwash was expected, a front-end
loader pushes sand Monday into a protective berm off Route 12. In
Virginia Beach, an official said Sandbridge has, as usual, ``problem
areas.''
by CNB