Heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds possible Saturday in Hampton Roads

After a week of clear skies and extreme heat, forecasters predict heavy downpours over the weekend which could cause localized flooding.

Hampton Roads could expect “slow moving thunderstorms” starting around 2 p.m. until midnight Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologist Jeff Orrock said a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain is expected in the region. But some areas with locally heavy rainfall could see up to 2 inches of rain. Urban flooding — when incoming storm water exceeds a drainage system’s capacity — could happen in places with poor drainage, underpasses, small streams and ditches.

Numerous t-storms are expected across the area from Sat afternoon-Sat night. There is the potential for flash flooding and localized damaging wind gusts on Saturday. In addition, isolated strong storms are possible later today in N/NW portions of the area. pic.twitter.com/wORiX84Qg7
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) August 13, 2021

Storms that pop up before 8 p.m. could bring severe weather but, Orrock said, Saturday morning and the better part of the afternoon should be fairly sunny with a heat index of 103 to 105 degrees.

Another potential threat, aside from heavy rain, is gusty winds up to 60 mph. Forecasters expect any damaging winds to occur between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Local power outages should not be ruled out.

On Sunday, Orrock said people could see cooler temperatures with scattered thunderstorms later in the day, but severe weather isn’t expected.

Sierra Jenkins, 229-462-8896, sierra.jenkins@virginiamedia.com