Coastal storm to blast North Carolina, Virginia with windswept rain, coastal flooding
The coastal low forming near the Carolinas is expected to slowly drift off to the north over the next few days, and it will bring several rounds of unsettled weather to the mid-Atlantic, especially North Carolina and Virginia.
Coastal storm brings threats of flooding, rip currents to mid-Atlantic
A coastal storm is bringing the risk of rip currents from Florida to the Northeast, and the mid-Atlantic is bracing for gusty winds and coastal flooding as we enter into the start of the upcoming week. FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar has the latest on Sept. 14, 2025.
WILMINGTON, N.C. – People flocking to beaches along the mid-Atlantic coast to try and soak up the final days of summer may be out of luck this week as a non-tropical area of low pressure spinning off the coast threatens to slam the region with strong winds and flooding rain.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the coastal low forming near the Carolinas is expected to slowly drift off to the north over the next few days, and it will bring several rounds of unsettled weather to the mid-Atlantic, especially North Carolina and Virginia.
While the exact track of the storm system is still uncertain, the FOX Forecast Center says confidence is high that Monday and Tuesday will be wet and stormy.
Some computer forecast models show that the coastal storm could move farther to the north into Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. Others keep the system parked off the mid-Atlantic coast.
Either way, forecasters say widespread, heavy rain is likely.
Most areas could pick up 2-3 inches of rain, with some areas seeing upwards of 3-5 inches.
And if the rain falls too quickly, flash flooding could develop, especially on Tuesday.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed areas of Virginia and North Carolina in a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat on Tuesday.
It’s not only the rain that could cause problems.
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The FOX Forecast Center said winds will also strengthen, with some inland areas seeing wind gusts of 20-25 mph, while coastal regions could see wind gusts of 30-40 mph.
Those conditions will give coastal communities from the Outer Banks in North Carolina to Virginia a tropical-like feel.
However, this system is not expected to become a tropical storm because the waters in the Atlantic offshore are too cool for development. Instead, the FOX Forecast Center said the storm is forming because of the clash between warm air offshore and cooler air moving in from the land.
That process, according to the FOX Forecast Center, produces strong, nor’easter-type storm systems rather than tropical ones.
Coastal flooding will be possible during times of high tide, though major impacts are not expected.
High surf and life-threatening rip currents at local beaches are expected as the storm lingers offshore.