Coastal Danger
A large storm that will remain stalled just off the Atlantic coast into Wednesday will continue to create strong winds and rough surf and potential coastal flooding. It's expected to turn westward later this week when it will deliver downpours in the Southeast. This storm, which brought tornadoes and flooding rain to the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians last week, could even become the very first subtropical depression or named system of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. Coastal cities like Atlantic City, New Jersey; Ocean City, Maryland; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Charleston, South Carolina; could see some coastal flooding due to prolonged onshore winds and higher-than-normal tides. Dangerous rip currents are also posing a threat in many places up and down the East Coast. Rip currents are caused by large swells that move toward coastal areas, and officials are warning swimmers and surfers to be aware of the dangers.
Later this week, the storm is forecast to bring showers and spotty thunderstorms onshore from southern New Jersey to northern Florida. The rain will be a welcomed change for the Southeast coast, as much of the region is experiencing a moderate drought. However, some areas could end up with problematic flooding.
AccuWeather meteorologists say over the course of the week, there is some indication that the center of the storm will trend warmer since it will linger over warm water. Warmer water is a key ingredient in the development of tropical systems, fueling thunderstorms as they develop tropical characteristics. Although the probability of this storm becoming subtropical remains low, AccuWeather forecasters say that there is still a chance it could form toward the end of the week and into the weekend. A storm like this developing before the official start of the season is not entirely unusual. There have been seven straight years of pre-season development in the Atlantic Ocean. Last year's early development occurred when Tropical Storm Ana formed on May 22, 2021.
Businesses in the area need to keep a close eye on this system and should:
- Coordinate your preparedness activities with vendors, supply chain members, and local partners
- Perform a vulnerability assessment of all equipment, processes, and operations
- Flooding causes contamination of water systems and can bring pests like mosquitoes
For more on the upcoming hurricane season join us on May 25th for our 2022 Hurricane Season Outlook webinar. Lead Hurricane Forecaster, Dan Kottlowski, will showcase this year's Atlantic Hurricane Season outlook. Plus, is your organization ready to face a major storm? Senior Account Executive and Meteorologist, Don Coash, will explain how proactive communication and having a plan in place can help manage and minimize business disruptions.
