Hampton Roads could experience damaging winds Monday that may create conditions favorable for a tornado.
The National Weather Service forecast shows an “enhanced” risk of severe storms across the entire Virginia region east of Farmville, as well as central and eastern North Carolina, at some point Monday. This outlook means there is a greater than 30% chance of “more persistent and/or widespread” severe weather, including “a few intense storms.” According to the NWS, the storms are most likely to develop in the afternoon or evening, with wind gusts expected to reach between 50 and 70 mph.
“We don’t have a location (for a possible tornado) at this point, we just have the potential for it,” said NWS meteorologist Mike Montefusco.
Along with strong winds, the weather service expects between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain from Monday morning through Thursday night. Temperatures in the Hampton Roads region are forecast to drop just below freezing Tuesday night, which could cause a “hard freeze” for any rainwater remaining on the ground from Monday.