Coastal Flood — Accomack, Virginia

2025-10-12 to 2025-10-13 · Accomack, Virginia

Event narrative

A coastal low lingering off the Southeast coast on October 12 resulted in a prolonged period of elevated northeast to north winds across the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. This led to widespread moderate to major coastal flooding across Accomack County on October 12 into October 13. Tangier Island reached 4.66 ft MLLW at 520 PM EST on October 12, 4.11 ft MLLW at 350 AM EST on October 13, and 3.84 ft MLLW at 450 PM EST on October 13. Wachapreague reached 8.13 ft at 1248 PM EST on October 12 which was the tenth highest crest ever at that site. Chincoteague Inlet reached 5.17 ft MLLW at 1242 PM EST on October 12. Additionally, law enforcement reported that the majority of Veterans Memorial Park was inundated with water and that there was water across Maddox Boulevard during the afternoon high tide on October 12.

Wider weather episode

A coastal low formed off of the Southeast coast on October 11 and slowly tracked north into October 13 before moving offshore. Meanwhile, a strong 1035mb area of high pressure lingered over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northeast to north winds across the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters, which allowed for widespread moderate to major coastal flooding across eastern Virginia and the Virginia Eastern Shore on October 12 into October 13.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1297145. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.