Mid-Atlantic coastal storm peaks today as attention shifts eastward

We’re into the back half of September without any significant tropical cyclones developing across the Atlantic yet this month, but that may be about to change. Our pesky East Coast low is having it largest impact today as well.

Weather Watch

Mid-Atlantic storm. Low pressure was just offshore the Outer Banks of North Carolina Tuesday morning. It should make landfall nearby there today, bringing wet and squally weather with a wide swath of 2 to 4-plus inches of rain for northeast North Carolina and southeast Virginia. Widespread minor to moderate tidal and coastal flooding are ongoing and anticipated, especially around the southern Chesapeake Bay, where some major tidal flooding is possible on and around the James River.

Atlantic hurricane season. We’re still not far off the statistical peak of the season and the Atlantic basin is threatening to turn more active. Gabrielle is forecast to develop from the first of two waves (red circle below) while a follow up system is also exiting Africa. The system likely to become Gabrielle will need to be watched in Bermuda in particular as it currently looks to track that way as a powerful hurricane.

Lightning links

Tropical Storm Mario to funnel rain into Southern California, southwest US. (Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather)

Homes damaged, cars swept away as rains flood India's Uttarakhand. (BBC)

North Dakota tornado outbreak sets new yearly tornado record. (Fox Weather, Emilee Speck and Greg Diamond)

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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