THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508270045
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Jerry moved toward Hampton Roads on Saturday, raising hopes for substantial rain in the parched region.
The once-tropical depression brought cloudy skies and cooler weather to Virginia and North Carolina. Showers reached Hampton Roads early Saturday night.
The remnants of the storm, now a low-pressure system, ``will gradually move northeastward across the central sections of North Carolina'' this evening, ``moving off the Virginia coast Monday,'' said Will J. Burson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
``The result . . . will be cloudy skies with widespread rain over most areas of the state into the coming week,'' Burson said.
A flood watch is in effect for southwestern sections of North Carolina at least through today. Almost 4 inches of rain fell in 12 hours Saturday in parts of Henderson County in southwestern North Carolina.
The big question Saturday was whether Jerry would bring Hampton Roads steady, soaking rains over several days or just some showers and occasional thunderstorms. The answer depends on which system wins the tug of war to dominate the region's weather.
Jerry's remnants are steering north and northeast, moving headlong into the edge of a high-pressure system that has entrenched itself over the mid-Atlantic, pumping very dry air into the area.
The odds seem to favor Jerry pushing north, given that the storm already had moved ahead faster than expected. On Friday, meteorologists had expected the storm to move very slowly, not affecting southeastern Virginia until Tuesday or Wednesday - if at all.
The Hampton Roads forecast calls for cloudy weather today, tonight and Monday with a 50 percent chance of rain, a high near 80 and a low in the lower 70s.
This month, only 1.23 inches of rain has fallen at the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport. That is almost 3 inches below normal for the month. And rainfall this year is nearly 10 inches below normal.
Meanwhile, the tropics remained a three-ring affair Saturday as the National Hurricane Center upgraded a tropical wave to Tropical Depression 12.
At 5 p.m., the depression center was about 590 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands, moving west northwest near 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph and some strengthening is likely, the Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Humberto was about 1,475 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands, moving toward the north at about 9 mph, a threat to no one except shipping interests. Maximum sustained winds were near 90 mph and little change in strength is likely today.
Tropical Storm Iris, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, was just southeast of Dominica, moving northwest near 6 mph. Iris is expected to move through the island chain today.
A tropical storm warning was posted for the British Virgin Islands and a tropical storm watch was in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands. A tropical storm watch could be required for Puerto Rico today. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
STEVE STONE/Staff
TRACKER'S GUIDE
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: HURRICANES by CNB