Coastal flooding concerns from Alexandria to Annapolis as powerful nor’easter develops offshore
Coastal Flood Warning in effect for parts of Maryland, Virginia
A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for parts of Maryland and Virginia until Friday morning.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Parts of Maryland and Virginia are preparing for the threat of coastal flooding as a powerful nor’easter brews off the East Coast.
What we know:
A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect across parts of the region Thursday. Areas from Alexandria to Annapolis, as well as other coastal communities, reported that flooding has become more frequent and more severe over the years.
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Sandbags are a familiar sight in downtown Annapolis, and low‑lying areas of Anne Arundel County are already seeing water creep in as the nor’easter approaches. Rain combined with 10–20 mph winds is expected to push water to moderate flood stage at high tides.
City emergency managers are monitoring gauges and reminding property owners to take precautions.
Coastal flooding concerns from Alexandria to Annapolis as powerful nor’easter develops offshore
Parts of Maryland and Virginia are preparing for the threat of coastal flooding as a powerful nor’easter brews off the East Coast.
Alexandria sees repeated coastal flooding
Alexandria, which has dealt with repeated coastal flooding, is bracing for up to a half‑foot of inundation above ground level in shoreline areas and flood‑prone parts of Arlington County. The district currently averages one flood a month, a frequency that could increase during the current weather warning.
Water is expected to approach the curb near King Street and Strand Street and could reach buildings near King and Union Street. The city is nearing completion of a new flood resilience plan that expands on earlier mitigation efforts, with approval expected this fall.
The expanded roadmap, which builds on the city's 2021 mitigation guidelines, aims to:
- Identify local flood hazards
- Evaluate community vulnerabilities
- Outline priority infrastructure projects
City leaders said the plan will establish a framework to assess the full scope and scale of flooding across the city. By pinpointing high-risk areas that require further study and intervention, officials hope to secure future funding, design solutions and execute critical mitigation projects in areas prone to recurrent flooding.
Residents and business owners share concerns
What they're saying:
Despite the city's long-term planning, residents and business owners say immediate action is needed.
"It's been like this for four years," said Alexandria resident Phil Brown. "I'm not aware of what the city is going to do about it."
At Vola's, a restaurant located directly on the Old Town waterfront, management is routinely prepares for rising tides.
"When it rains it can get very high," said manager Jonathan Avila.
Visiting tourists have also felt the impact. "We're from El Paso, and we're having flooding, so it's all over," said Gloria Peña.
In Alexandria, previous mitigation efforts include a July announcement regarding utility location investigations near King Street to lay the groundwork for long-term flood relief.
When asked about the concrete timeline and start dates for upcoming construction projects, Alexandria's mayor indicated that city officials are currently gathering additional details. Further updates regarding council actions and project schedules are expected as the draft plan moves toward its fall approval date.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.