Strong Rip Currents To Affect Coast: VA Labor Day Weather Forecast

Virginians taking Labor Day weekend trips or hosting barbecues will experience pleasant weather overall, but conditions on the beaches may be hazardous at times. Temperatures may appear more fall-like than summer-like as families say farewell to the season.

Although Virginia will evade the risk of flooding from showers and thunderstorms in the southeastern states over Labor Day weekend, AccuWeather forecasters expect strong rip currents to affect the East Coast, including in Virginia.

"Beachgoers should expect rough surf and strong rip currents from Florida to the Carolinas, expanding north to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson. "Minor flooding is also possible at times of high tide in areas prone to coastal flooding."

The likelihood of stronger coastal flooding may not be as high as during Hurricane Erin due to the impact of the new moon phase, according to forecasters. The new moon and full moon phases have the ability to produce more significant high tides and smaller low tides, according to the National Ocean Service.

Temperatures are trending below average for the end of August. In the D.C. region, National Weather Service says temperatures will trend cooler over the weekend.

In fact, the outlook for less scorching days ahead has led the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang to declare summer over. Forecasters cited high temperatures in the high 70s and lows in the 50s and 60s over the next two weeks. This is the earliest the forecasters have called an end to summer, as it usually happens in mid or late September or October.

"By our meteorological definition, summer ends when there’s no longer a realistic chance of three straight days of 90 degrees or higher," the Capital Weather Gang wrote. "This year, we think we’ve reached that point."

Could we be experiencing the case of the "false fall" before another heat wave? The Capital Weather Gang hasn't ruled out another scorching day this year. Forecasters say the average last 90-degree day in Washington, D.C. is Sept. 11, but it has reached as late as Oct. 11 in past years.

Here is the forecast for the days ahead in Northern Virginia.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 54.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. At night, mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 58.