Flood Watch Extended for Eastern Shore Through Thursday Morning

The National Weather Service in Wakefield has extended a Flood Watch for Accomack and Northampton counties through Thursday morning as more heavy rain is expected overnight.

The watch means flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall remains possible across the Eastern Shore and other parts of eastern, south central and southeast Virginia.

Forecasters say showers and thunderstorms are expected to become more widespread tonight into early Thursday morning. An additional 2 to 3 inches of rain are possible, with locally higher amounts. While both Eastern Shore counties remain under the watch, higher additional rainfall totals are anticipated in Northampton County than in Accomack County.

That rain would come on top of rainfall that occurred Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning, which was heaviest from east-central Virginia to the Virginia Eastern Shore. Northern and central Accomack County saw some of the highest earlier totals, while much of Northampton County missed the heaviest overnight rain.

Because of the expected additional rainfall, the flood threat is expected to continue through at least Thursday morning. The Weather Service said excessive runoff may lead to flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying or flood-prone locations.

Poor-drainage areas, ditches, fields and roads that typically collect water could also become hazardous during heavier downpours. Drivers in Accomack and Northampton counties are urged to use caution overnight and early Thursday and should not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

The rainfall is expected to provide some relief from ongoing drought conditions on the Eastern Shore, but forecasters caution that heavy rain falling in a short period of time can quickly run off and create flooding before it fully soaks into the ground.

The Flood Watch remains in effect for both Accomack and Northampton counties through Thursday morning.