Boy was it hot this weekend.  We were in the 100s solid yesterday.  In fact…Norfolk International Airport hit a new record of 102.  The old record was 100 degrees set back in 1993.  Elizabeth City was also hot with 100 degrees, but that didn’t break the record of 101 set back in 1987.  My weather watcher Don in Toano said he had 101 yesterday, when all of a sudden a thunderstorm came through and dropped his temperatures back to the low 70s.  Incredible!  Today a large portion of the country will see some heat relief: 

This is welcomed relief, but I don’t want to paint too rosy of a picture just yet.  There is a very slow moving front to the north of our region, and it will take time to push through Hampton Roads. It is a cold front that stalled out last night.  Scattered storms were lined up along this boundary this morning.  Today the front will slowly sink south and will create the chance for thunderstorms.  We are under a slight risk for severe weather with severe wind and hail being the main threats. 

Slight Risk For Severe Today

The front should switch from stationary mode to a southerly drifting cold front later this morning.  Since the boundary will move slowly, the storms may also move slowly.  So heavy rain is possible in any of the storms. 

 While the heat won’t be as extreme as last weekend, it will still be pretty warm/hot and humid before the front really sinks in.  Highs today will be in the upper 80s to low 90s.  A few mid 90s are even possible over North Carolina.  We will have a lot more cloud cover which will help temps aside from the front. Strong storms will continue tonight.  Tomorrow the front is expected to get hung up over North Carolina.  A weak area of low pressure is forecast to form along this and move to the east-northeast.  If this happens as predicted, then  it will increase the chance for heavy rain.  Possibly flooding rains.  The latest models are a bit split on where the front will set up though.  If it stays farther south over North Carolina, then the rain chances will be higher south as well.  Either way we should be ready for potential heavy rain in the region at some point over the next 48 hours with any of those rain showers easily capable of producing over an inch. 

The boundary looks like it will stall out and slowly fade over the region through next weekend.  This will give us a chance for scattered showers and storms each day.  However, some of the models like the European dry us out before then.  Highs are forecast to stay in the 80s up through next Saturday.  We will likely go back to at least the 90s by next Sunday into early next week.  I’m so glad we are cooling off.  I can’t imagine what people are doing that don’t have A.C.  My air conditioner works pretty good, but it had a hard time keeping up yesterday.  I can’t wait to see my next power bill.  Well….maybe I can.

Meteorologist: Jeremy Wheeler