Record Rains in Norfolk From Julia's Remnants
A slow-moving slug of atmospheric moisture associated with former Tropical Storm Julia took up residence this week across the Mid-Atlantic. Together with a lingering front, the moisture has fueled several days of heavy rainfall in southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina. Preliminary rainfall totals for the period from Sunday through Wednesday night included 13.73” near the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, VA. By and large, the rains have been prolonged but not extremely intense, producing mainly widespread road closures.
The hardest-hit metropolitan area is Hampton Roads, VA, including Norfolk and Portsmouth. In the 72 hours ending at midnight Wednesday night, Norfolk International Airport picked up 9.35” of rain. That includes three consecutive days of daily-record precipitation: 3.04” on Monday, 2.38” on Tuesday, and 3.93” on Wednesday. As noted by Capital Weather Gang, this is the only instance of three consecutive daily precipitation records in Norfolk data going back to 1874, according to local weathercaster Tim Pandajis. The city’s wettest September--13.80”--occurred in 1979, when Norfolk experienced deluges from Hurricane David as well as a tropical depression later that month. As of this morning, Norfolk’s total for this September was up to around 13”. With showers still in the area today, the September 1979 record is in striking distance