*Tropical Storm Warning for Accomack, Worcester Counties*
DELMARVA FORECAST
Thursday: A mix of clouds and sun. Highs in the upper 70s.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
Friday: Increasing clouds. Becoming breezy in the afternoon as showers develop. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Saturday: Rain likely, heavy at times. Windy. Highs in the low to mid 70s. Winds from the northeast 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph or more likely. Chance of rain 80 percent.
Sunday: Showers likely. Breezy. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Monday: Lingering showers, then partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
FORECAST DISCUSSION
Normal high: 78°F. Normal low: 58°F.
We're going to have one more quiet day on Delmarva before a coastal storm brings us a wet and windy weekend.
As high pressure pulls away to our northeast, winds have shifted to an easterly direction. Thursday starts off mostly sunny, but with the northeast breeze and increasing humidity, we'll see increasing clouds throughout the day, although peeks of sun here are there are not out of the question.
Then Friday is where we get into a transition that will set us up for a soggy weekend.
Low pressure is expected to develop off the Carolina Coast early Friday. This low could briefly develop some subtropical storm characteristics, but that is secondary to the fact that it will bring wet and windy weather for much of the upcoming weekend.
Winds Friday will gradually increase from the east, with gusts of 25 mph or more possible by afternoon, then showers begin to overspread Delmarva by late afternoon into the evening.
Periods of windswept rain will continue Friday night through Saturday night.
Winds over land could gust to 35 mph or more at times. Gale watches have been posted for late Friday and Saturday over the waters around Delmarva. Downed tree limbs and some power outages could be possible.
We will also be watching the potential for flooding. The heavy rain will continue for an extended period of time, and several inches of rain will be possible. All of Delmarva is under a threat for flooding Saturday, with Sussex County, the Lower Eastern Shore, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia under the highest threats. Coastal flooding will also be likely around the times of high tide.
Gusty showers are likely to continue on Sunday, although less intense than Saturday.
The low pulls away late Monday, and by Tuesday, we should return to a quieter weather pattern for a few days.
There is disagreement in the models, but some rain chances could return by Thursday.
In the Tropics...
Hurricane "Nigel" will stay well into the Central Atlantic, and will only menace the shipping industry over the next several days, although interests in Iceland and the British Isles should keep their eyes on the storm.
A tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands has a high, 70 percent chance of development. Should it become a named storm it's name would be "Ophelia".
The long-term 8-14 day outlook has temperatures averaging above normal and precipitation near normal for September 28-October 4.