The rains came

Photo courtesy Tom Armistead

After nearly two months of dry weather, Tuesday brought a dramatic change to the Eastern Shore. Heavy rainfall was reported across much of the region. The Accomac, Greenbush, Tasley and Onley areas received the brunt of the rain with more than ten inches recorded when a band of torrential rain stalled overhead. Tankard Nurseries in Exmore reported 4.8 inches in just three hours, Wallops reported 2.18 inches of rain and in lower Northampton County, rainfall totals were around 2.5 inches.

Meteorologists said a stalled cold front combined with high humidity to produce the flooding rains. Roads and yards that were dry and dusty days ago are now under water in some locations. The Virginia Department of Transportation closed several roads, including a section of Route 13 in Melfa and Taylor Road in Tasley, due to standing water.

Accomack 911 dispatchers reported six accidents during the day Tuesday, four involving vehicles submerged in floodwaters. No injuries required transport to local hospitals.

For farmers, the downpour brought mixed results. Some crops already stressed by drought may not recover, while other fields were flooded, raising concerns about yields. Soybeans may benefit from the soaking, but newly planted fall snap beans are expected to be negatively affected by the torrential rain.