This is part of a new reporting partnership between The Virginian-Pilot/Daily Press and WTKR News 3.
Beachgoers who have had to cancel plans over the past couple weeks can look forward to a better chance for sunny skies this weekend.
Over the past several days, Hampton Roads has faced less-than-ideal weather with rain and storms persistent throughout the week.
On Friday, brief downpours brought flash flooding to parts of the region, including Norfolk and Portsmouth. Earlier, residents were encouraged to seek shelter indoors as thunderstorms rolled through Virginia Beach and other areas, with winds as high as 60 mph.
The string of wet weather was likely caused by a front that has stuck around near the coast. Like on an interstate highway, storm systems move along areas of low pressure hit mainly in the afternoon when the hottest part of the day arrives.
This weekend’s weather, though, is likely going to be better. There’s still a chance for fog Saturday and some afternoon storms both days, but there’s a good chance for a lot more sunshine.
Sunday is looking like the hotter day, getting close to the 90-degree mark in some areas. Monday, however, is going to be the hottest day in the near future, with highs around 90 and heat index values near 100. Of course, that depends on the timing of possible storms — some of which could turn severe.
Over the past couple weekends, weather hazards put a damper on plans for travelers heading to the Oceanfront or other beaches in the region. On June 16, storms produced a tornado that touched down in Isle of Wight County, according to the weather service at the time, and winds downed trees around Smithfield and the Hilton area of Newport News. Hail was reported in north Suffolk, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton. In Hampton’s Willow Oaks neighborhood, more than 2,000 Dominion customers lost power during the storm, and there were 1,395 customers without power in Newport News’ Hilton neighborhood.
The weekend before that, remnants of Canadian wildfire smoke blanketed the majority of the East Coast after a backdoor cold front drew in the hazy air. That has since cleared.
