Virginia, 2023

Coastal Flood in Virginia, August 31, 2023

August 31, 2023 · NWS AKQ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused minor to moderate (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Virginia Beach.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
1

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.

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused minor to moderate (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Virginia Beach.

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 Aug 31, 5:19 AM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 5:19 AM EST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 6:24 AM EST, 6 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

MDZ021>023-VAZ048-060>062-064>069-075>077-079>083-087-088-092-
509>522-011130-
Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Fluvanna-Prince Edward-Cumberland-
Goochland-Caroline-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-Nottoway-Amelia-Powhatan-
Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Brunswick-Dinwiddie-
Prince George-Charles City-New Kent-Greensville-Sussex-Southampton-
Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover-Eastern Hanover-
Western Chesterfield-Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)-
Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Eastern Henrico-
Western King William-Eastern King William-Western King and Queen-
Eastern King and Queen-Western Essex-Eastern Essex-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, central
Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern Virginia, north central
Virginia, south central Virginia and southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ017-011130-
Western Currituck-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.
   Tropical Storm Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Tropical Storm Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ012>016-011130-
Northampton-Hertford-Gates-Pasquotank-Camden-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Flood Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ098-011130-
Virginia Beach-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT FRIDAY...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   Wind Advisory.
   HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK.
   High Surf Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   High Surf Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MDZ025-VAZ099-011130-
Maryland Beaches-Accomack-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM
EDT FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland and
southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK.
   Coastal Flood Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ089-090-093-096-097-524-011130-
Surry-James City-Isle of Wight-Suffolk-Chesapeake-Newport News-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MDZ024-011130-
Inland Worcester-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM
EDT FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ095-525-011130-
Norfolk/Portsmouth-Hampton/Poquoson-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Wind Advisory.
   Coastal Flood Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ084-523-011130-
Gloucester-York-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM
EDT FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern Virginia and
southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Advisory.
   Coastal Flood Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ078-085-086-011130-
Lancaster-Middlesex-Mathews-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EDT FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ030-032-011130-
Bertie-Perquimans-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Advisory.
   Flood Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ031-011130-
Chowan-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   Flood Watch.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Hazardous weather is not expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

VAZ100-011130-
Northampton-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 AM EDT
FRIDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   Wind Advisory.
   HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK.
   High Surf Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ102-011130-
Eastern Currituck-
724 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2023

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT FRIDAY...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT FRIDAY...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   Flood Watch.
   High Surf Advisory.
   HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK.
   Tropical Storm Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Coastal Flood Warning.
   High Surf Advisory.
   Tropical Storm Warning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 coastal flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Coastal Flood, Virginia Beach

When
August 31, 6:30 AM EST to 9:40 AM EST
Where
Virginia Beach forecast zone
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
36.738, -76.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The combination of surface high pressure centered over the eastern Great Lakes and Tropical Storm Idalia lifting northeast then east off the North Carolina outer banks, resulted in very strong northeast winds which caused minor to moderate (tidal) coastal flooding over portions of Virginia Beach. Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel reached 5.51 feet MLLW at 930 am on Thursday, August 31.

What these are

Coastal Flood
Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Virginia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1136020.