Coastal Flood — Norfolk, Virginia

2025-10-12 to 2025-10-13 · Norfolk, 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. This led to moderate to major coastal flooding across the city of Norfolk on October 12 into October 13. Sewell's Point reached 6.18 ft MLLW at 130 PM EST on October 12. Money Point reached 6.59 ft MLLW at 206 PM EST on October 12. Lynnhaven Inlet reached 6.17 ft MLLW at 1 PM EST on October 12 which was the second highest crest ever recorded at that site. Lynnhaven also reached 5.37 ft MLLW at 1226 AM on October 13 and 5.21 ft MLLW at 130 PM EST on October 13. Additionally, the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River reached 6.52 ft MLLW at 2 PM EST on October 12 and the Elizabeth River at Midtown Tunnel reached 6.50 ft MLLW at 154 PM EST on October 12. Water was reported across Riverside Drive in Portsmouth. In Norfolk, an emergency manager reported coastal flooding off Pleasant Avenue in neighborhoods along Little Creek, with 18th Bay Street mostly inundated at high tide. Additionally, approximately two feet of water was reported by the public at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Llewellyn Avenue with multiple cars reported to be stalled out due to the water.

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 1297178. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.