Storm Surge in Virginia, April 10, 2003

Name: Storm Surge in Virginia, April 10, 2003
Start: 2003-04-10T05:00
End: 2003-04-10T17:00
Location: Virginia

April 10, 2003 · NWS AKQ · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Flooding occurred at the time of high tide in some streets and yards across portions of the Middle Peninsula and Hampton Roads.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AKQ wrote it up.

Flooding occurred at the time of high tide in some streets and yards across portions of the Middle Peninsula and Hampton Roads.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wakefield, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 10, 5:00 AM EST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 10, 5:00 AM EST, 0 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
500 AM EST THU APR 10 2003

COOL..WET WX WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE REGION THRU FRI AS CLSD
UPR LO OVR SRN GA ERLY MORNG...LIFTS SLOWLY NE AND EVENTUALLY OFF
THE NC/VA CST BY FRI NGT.  WITH MORE RAIN EXPECTED TO MOVE UP/THRU
FA FM THE S...WILL MAINTAIN FLOOD WATCH ALL ZNS FOR TODAY AND TNGT.
QPF STILL LUKS LIKE MOST AREAS CUD GET ANOTHER 1.00 OF RAIN THRU
TNGT. QUITE WNDY MOST AREAS (ESPLY E) THRU TNGT...AS LO PRES MOVES
TO ALNG THE NC CST.

UPR LO/SFC LO WILL THEN SLOWLY LIFT NE FM ERN NC/NC CST FRI MORNG
TO E OF THE SE VA CST FRI EVENG.  THE ENTIRE SYS WILL THEN CONTINUE
NE TO OFF THE SRN NEW ENG CST BY 12Z SAT.  THERE WILL BE LINGERING
RAIN OR SHRAS FRI INTO FRI EVENG...ESPLY SE CNTIES...BUT WNDS WILL
BE MUCH LESS THAN TODAY.

SYS PULLS AWAY INTO THE NRN ATLC ON SAT...ALLOWING SUNSHINE AND
SEASONAL TEMPS TO RETURN.  DRY WX WITH NORMAL TO ABV NORMAL RDGS
IS THEN EXPECTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WK.

FCSTID = 32

SBY 44 42 51 41 / 80 80 50 50
OXB 44 42 47 41 / 80 80 50 50
ECG 50 48 54 45 / 80 80 70 40
ORF 49 47 52 45 / 80 80 70 40
PHF 49 45 52 44 / 80 80 50 40
AKQ 48 44 52 42 / 80 80 50 40
RIC 45 43 50 42 / 80 80 50 30
FVX 44 41 49 40 / 80 80 50 30

.AKQ...
.MD...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT MDZ021>025. GALE WRNG CSTL WTRS.
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY MDZ025.
.NC...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT NCZ012>017-030>032-102. GALE WRNG
CSTL WTRS...AND SCA CURRITUCK SND. HEAVY SURF ADVISORY NCZ102.
.VA...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT VAZ048-049-060>100. GALE WRNG CSTL
WTRS AND CHES BAY S OF NEW PT COMFORT. SCA CHES BAY SMITH PT TO NEW
PT COMFORT. COASTAL FLOOD WRNG VAZ084-086-091-094-095-098. HEAVY SURF
ADVISORY VAZ098>100.

GINGRICH

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 10, 4:40 AM EST, 20 minutes before

MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-049-060>100-101600-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
540 AM EDT THU APR 10 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA...
NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT...DUE TO POSSIBILITY
OF HEAVY RAINFALL. REFER TO WBCFLSAKQ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. A COASTAL
FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT TODAY FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF
WINDMILL POINT...AND ALSO NORFOLK AND VIRGINIA BEACH. REFER TO
WBCCFWAKQ FOR FURTHER DETAILS. GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE
SOUTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT...AND THE
COASTAL WATERS FROM FENWICK ISLAND TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT.
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT ALONG THE COAST FROM FENWICK ISLAND
TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

TG

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...AND
STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
WAKEFIELD, VA CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING
(LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 10, 4:04 AM EST, 56 minutes before

MDZ025-VAZ077-078-084>086-091-094-095-098>100-NCZ102-102000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
504 AM EDT THU APR 10 2003

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR
MATHEWS...GLOUCESTER...POQUOSON...HAMPTON...NORFOLK...PORTSMOUTH AND
VIRGINIA BEACH FOR MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON...

...HEAVY SURF ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE
MID ATLANTIC BEACHES FROM FENWICK ISLAND DELAWARE SOUTH TO CURRITUCK
BEACH LIGHT...

INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY SURF ADVISORY ARE THE BEACHES IN OCEAN CITY
MARYLAND....WACHAPREAGUE...AND VIRGINIA BEACH AND OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK.

PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE MARYLAND...VIRGINIA
AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA COASTS INTO TONIGHT...AS HIGH PRESSURE
REMAINS OVER NEW ENGLAND. THE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE
HIGH TO THE NORTH AND THE DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE
SOUTH ALONG THE COASTAL CAROLINAS WILL RESULT IN PERSISTENT
NORTHEAST FLOW AVERAGING 30 TO 35 KTS ALONG THE NORTH
CAROLINA...VIRGINIA...AND MARYLAND COASTS.

WITH THE PERSISTENT NORTHEAST FLOW...LONG PERIOD NORTHEASTERLY
SWELLS WILL RESULT IN WAVE HEIGHTS FREQUENTLY EXCEEDING 8 FEET IN
ALL THE NEARSHORE WATERS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.  AS A RESULT...THE
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT...AS MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED TO OCCUR DURING THIS PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE POUNDING SURF.

PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS ALONG THE ATLANTIC
COAST...AND WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SHORES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...WITH
MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THAT AREA DURING THE TIMES OF
HIGH TIDE. TIDAL DEPARTURES BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ARE EXPECTED CLIMB
BETWEEN 2.5 AND 3.5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE BEACHES FROM OCEAN
CITY MARYLAND SOUTH TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NORTH CAROLINA...AND 2
TO 3 FEET FOR MUCH OF THE BAY.  THE HIGHEST DEPARTURES WILL BE
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BAY...SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT...AND IN PARTS
OF VIRGINIA BEACH...WHERE LEVELS MAY REACH OR EXCEED 4 FT ABOVE
NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDE THURSDAY AFTERNOON.  FOR THIS
REASON...A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TIMES AND FORECASTED LEVELS OF HIGH TIDES
TODAY AND FRIDAY MORNING FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS. ALL TIDE LEVELS ARE
REFERENCED TO MEAN LOWER LOW WATER.

LOCATION            TIME OF HIGH TIDE       EXPECTED HEIGHT (MLLW)

OCEAN CITY          244 PM THURSDAY         5.5 FEET.
                    321 AM FRIDAY           6.1 FEET.

WACHAPREAGUE        314 PM THURSDAY         6.0 FEET.
                    351 AM FRIDAY           5.9 FEET.

VIRGINIA BEACH      248 PM THURSDAY         6.3 FEET.
                    323 AM FRIDAY           5.1 FEET.

SEWELLS PT          415 PM THURSDAY         6.6 FEET.
                    450 AM FRIDAY           4.5 FEET.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...YOU CAN
ALSO REFER TO OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

25

Special weather statement, Apr 10, 4:30 AM EST, 30 minutes before

MDZ025-VAZ077-078-084>086-091-094-095-098>100-NCZ102-102000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
530 AM EDT THU APR 10 2003

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR
MATHEWS...GLOUCESTER...POQUOSON...HAMPTON...NORFOLK...PORTSMOUTH AND
VIRGINIA BEACH FOR MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON...

...HEAVY SURF ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE
MID ATLANTIC BEACHES FROM FENWICK ISLAND DELAWARE SOUTH TO CURRITUCK
BEACH LIGHT...

INCLUDED IN THE HEAVY SURF ADVISORY ARE THE BEACHES IN OCEAN CITY
MARYLAND....WACHAPREAGUE...AND VIRGINIA BEACH AND OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK.

PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE MARYLAND...VIRGINIA
AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA COASTS INTO TONIGHT...AS HIGH PRESSURE
REMAINS OVER NEW ENGLAND. THE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE
HIGH TO THE NORTH AND THE DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE
SOUTH ALONG THE COASTAL CAROLINAS WILL RESULT IN PERSISTENT
NORTHEAST FLOW AVERAGING 30 TO 35 KTS ALONG THE NORTH
CAROLINA...VIRGINIA...AND MARYLAND COASTS.

WITH THE PERSISTENT NORTHEAST FLOW...LONG PERIOD NORTHEASTERLY
SWELLS WILL RESULT IN WAVE HEIGHTS FREQUENTLY EXCEEDING 8 FEET IN
ALL THE NEARSHORE WATERS THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.  AS A RESULT...THE
HEAVY SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT...AS MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS
EXPECTED TO OCCUR DURING THIS PERIOD BECAUSE OF THE POUNDING SURF.

PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS WILL RAISE WATER LEVELS ALONG THE ATLANTIC
COAST...AND WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SHORES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...WITH
MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THAT AREA DURING THE TIMES OF
HIGH TIDE. TIDAL DEPARTURES BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ARE EXPECTED CLIMB
BETWEEN 2.5 AND 3.5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE BEACHES FROM OCEAN
CITY MARYLAND SOUTH TO CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT NORTH CAROLINA...AND 2
TO 3 FEET FOR MUCH OF THE BAY.  THE HIGHEST DEPARTURES WILL BE
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BAY...SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT...AND IN PARTS
OF VIRGINIA BEACH...WHERE LEVELS MAY REACH OR EXCEED 4 FT ABOVE
NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDE THURSDAY AFTERNOON.  FOR THIS
REASON...A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TIMES AND FORECASTED LEVELS OF HIGH TIDES
TODAY AND FRIDAY MORNING FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS. ALL TIDE LEVELS ARE
REFERENCED TO MEAN LOWER LOW WATER.

LOCATION            TIME OF HIGH TIDE       EXPECTED HEIGHT (MLLW)

OCEAN CITY          244 PM THURSDAY         5.5 FEET.
                    321 AM FRIDAY           6.1 FEET.

WACHAPREAGUE        314 PM THURSDAY         6.0 FEET.
                    351 AM FRIDAY           5.9 FEET.

VIRGINIA BEACH      248 PM THURSDAY         6.3 FEET.
                    323 AM FRIDAY           5.1 FEET.

SEWELLS PT          415 PM THURSDAY         6.6 FEET.
                    450 AM FRIDAY           4.8 FEET.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...YOU CAN
ALSO REFER TO OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WEATHER.NOAA.GOV/AKQ.

25

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 storm surge/tide. Local standard time, as filed.

Storm Surge/Tide, Gloucester

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Gloucester forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.401, -76.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Mathews

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Mathews forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.417, -76.271 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Newport News

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Newport News forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Storm Surge/Tide, Norfolk / Hampton / Portsmouth

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Norfolk / Hampton / Portsmouth forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Storm Surge/Tide, Virginia Beach

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Virginia Beach forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.738, -76.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, York / Poquoson

When: April 10, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: York / Poquoson forecast zone
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

What these are

Storm Surge/Tide: Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, April 2003 The 2003 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5353247, 5353248, 5353249, 5353333, 5353334, 5353335.