THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408060229
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Finally!
It shouldn't rain today. And after weeks of daily deluges that have brought total rainfall this year to nearly 40 inches, that will be a relief for Hampton Roads.
A strong cold front pushed through the region Friday afternoon, bringing a monsoonal dose of rain and - in a few areas - pea- to marble-sized hail. Rush-hour traffic crept along as the downpours reduced visibility to a few hundred feet and overtaxed storm drains left some streets and intersections flooded.
The payoff for the heavy rains is expected to come today, with clearing skies in the morning and a sunny afternoon. And there will be one sharp difference from the weather of the past three weeks: The forecast includes nary a hint of thunderstorms for this afternoon and evening. What's more, it should be cooler and less humid.
Dare anyone suggest it? It could actually be nice outside!
People may even be able to turn off air conditioners tonight and throw open the windows. The mercury is expected to dip to an overnight low of 60 to 65.
The effect of the cold front was readily apparent Friday afternoon as temperatures plunged with its passage. The midday high was 92 at the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport. By 5 p.m., the mercury had dropped 19 degrees to 73.
The storm's torrential rains, lightning and wind made for a grand show, but there were no reports of serious damage. The heaviest rain was reported in Newport News, where 1.14 inches fell.
In North Carolina, trees were uprooted near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport when winds gusted to 46 mph as the front passed.
By 9 p.m. Friday, 0.85 of an inch of rain had fallen at Norfolk International. That brought total rainfall for 1994 to 40.1 inches, far more than the average of 27.52 inches for this point in the year.
And unless rainfall just about stops for the next five months, this year should end up wetter than normal. Average annual rainfall is 45.22 inches.
While it would take 30 more inches to best the annual rainfall record of 70.72 inches set in 1889, the region needs less than 17 inches of rain to break into the top 10 and replace 1872, when 57.04 inches was recorded in Norfolk.
``It's only August,'' said Scott Stephens, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. ``So it's going to be very close to one of the rainiest years of all time if we continue the trend we're on and don't dry out this winter.''
For now, however, Hampton Roads can enjoy the sun, although the forecast calls for a possible return of thunderstorms next week when Friday's cold front may start retreating.
Here's the forecast:
Today - Early-morning clouds, then partly sunny and pleasant with a high around 80. Winds north at 15 mph.
Tonight - Clear and cool with a low of 60 to 65. Light northeast winds.
Sunday - Partly sunny and continued pleasant with a high in the lower 80s.
Monday - Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and a high in the upper 70s to the mid-80s and a low near 70.
Tuesday - Variable cloudiness with a chance of showers and a high of 80 to 85 and a low in the 60s to the low 70s. by CNB