HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Instead of flowers, it appears May will be bringing showers to the Hampton Roads region this weekend, beginning on Friday.

The threat of severe weather has prompted some schools and events to announce schedule changes.

Camden County Schools in North Carolina will dismiss at 1 p.m. Friday. All after school activities are candeled.

Edenton-Chowan Schools in North Carolina are dismissing students at 12:30 p.m. Friday and have cancelled all after-school activities.

Elizabeth City Public Schools will be following this schedule Friday because of the risk of severe weather Friday afternoon into the evening:

• Elementary schools will release at 12:30 p.m.
• Middle & High schools will release at 1:30 p.m.
• ECP Early College will release at 1:30 p.m.

Gates County Schools in North Carolina are closing at 1 p.m. Friday. Daycare will close at 2 p.m. The high school prom scheduled for Friday night is still scheduled to happen at this time. Keep an eye on school email and social media for prom updates.

Organizers of the The Newport News Children’s Festival, which was scheduled for Saturday, May 7, announced that the event is canceled because of the forecast for rain.

Norfolk State University has decided to move Saturday morning’s Commencement Ceremony indoors. It will now be held at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. Because of limited seating in Echols Hall, each graduate will now receive six (6) tickets for the ceremony. Extra tickets will not be available.

Virginia Arts Festival and Beach Events have decided to move Virginia International PANFest events on Saturday, May 7 to the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The Friday night scheduled performances have been canceled.  

Coastal Flooding

There is a risk of coastal flooding throughout the weekend. Several localities are offering residents a free place to park to hopefully keep the water from creeping into their vehicle.

Norfolk city officials said residents can park in the York Street Parking Garage and the Brambleton Lot for free beginning Friday, until noon on Monday, May 9. ODU will open campus parking garages available to the community and suspend parking enforcement in these areas from 5 p.m. Saturday (after Commencement) through 5 p.m. Wednesday.

In York County, officials said the parking lot at Chisman Creek Park and the lots at the McReynolds Athletic Complex will be open for vehicles to park until Wednesday due to potential flooding. A reminder to please not park vehicles at school sites.

WAVY Meteorologist Jeremy Wheeler said strong storms are expected to pop up Friday afternoon and the chance will increase into the evening. There will be isolated showers Saturday, with more rain and wind on Sunday (Mother’s Day).

Gusty winds, heavy rain, hail and an isolated tornado are all possible with this storm system.

Stay with WAVY News on-air and online for weather updates throughout the weekend.