By Stephanie Lee and Cindy Clayton
The heavy thunderstorms pouring down on Hampton Roads could last into tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Norfolk, Chesapeake and northern Virginia Beach are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 4 p.m., said Jeff Lewitsky, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wakefield. The Hampton Roads area is under severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m.
In addition, all of southeastern Virginia is under a flash flood watch until 7 a.m. tomorrow, Lewitsky said.
The areas where thunderstorms are heaviest can expect up to 4 inches of precipitation per hour, Lewitsky said.
As of 3:45 p.m., Dominion Virginia Power reported that 8,213 customers in southeastern Virginia were experiencing power outages.
A falling tree took down wires and struck a passing car on Tyron Place in the Cradock section of Portsmouth, said Ann Hope, police spokeswoman. No one was injured, she said.
“There are wires down all over the city,” Hope said.
Today's high is expected to reach 92 with a low tonight in the 70s, the weather service says. Tomorrow's high should be about 84 with an additional chance for thunderstorms.
Air quality in Hampton Roads was predicted to be moderate today, according to a notice sent yesterday by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Hot and dry conditions caused the wildfire burning in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to produce smoke Tuesday. A touch of that familiar smoke smell had turned the air in some spots of Hampton Roads hazy this morning.
A small craft advisory is in effect today, according to the weather service. The risk of rip currents is low.
Staff writer Matthew Bowers contributed to this report.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
