HURRICANE IGOR CLOSES IN ON BERMUDA... DROUGHT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO WORSEN IN VIRGINIA AS FORECASTERS SEE NO SIGNIFICANT RAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Hurricane Igor, which is now a category 2 storm, is slowly approaching the tiny island of Bermuda. Conditions there will slowly go downhill as we go through the weekend. By Sunday night, hurricane conditions are expected there, and stormy conditions are expected for an extended period of time. The current forecast track takes the center very close, if not right over the island. Since the hurricane has such a large windfield, stormy conditions are expected no matter what. What about the storm's effects here in Hampton Roads? The main effect will be the large swells that are going to increase throughout the weekend. Another indirect effect of the storm passing well east of us will be to keep us dry. Yes, the subsidence that occurs well west of a hurricane normally gives us dry weather. That coupled with other factors are going to keep us on the dry side for several days. That is not good news for the parched areas of the Southern Mid-Atlantic states, including areas of western Hampton Roads and points north and west. The drought is only going to worsen. Since Virginia Beach had around an inch of rain from Hurricane Earl, the dryness isn't as much of a problem here. However, as the dryness continues, I expect Virginia Beach to be in the same boat as the rest of Eastern Virginia by next week. Temperatures will be very comfortable this weekend and will only slowly increase as we head into the late week period. That's it for now. I'll have an update on Sunday.