The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of the Hampton Roads region from 7 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Saturday.

Credit: wvec

NORFOLK, Va. — The 13News Now Weather Team has declared Friday night and Saturday Weather Alert Days for the likelihood of winter weather this weekend.

After our first taste of winter earlier this week, we're watching another storm, and another round of snow this weekend. The calls for a southern storm that will bring wintry weather to coastal Virginia and North Carolina Friday night into Saturday morning.

Winter storm forecast for Hampton Roads

Here's the setup: a low pressure system over the Gulf Coast will continue to track northeast and move across the area Friday night into Saturday. This system will be relatively weak and move through quickly, which will keep snow totals down just a bit. Precipitation is expected to start off as all snow after sunset Friday, and likely transition to freezing rain or rain across North Carolina, and eventually much of the area as the storm pulls offshore midday Saturday.

How much snow is expected Friday, Saturday

Snowfall totals look to be generally 1-2 inches across much of the area, with a heavier band of 2-4 inches across the Peninsula, Middle Peninsula, and Eastern Shore. If a heavier snowburst develops, some areas could see up to 6 inches. The locations of the highest amounts are dependent on where the heavier bands of snow end up. There is still some disagreement on where that will be. Across northeastern North Carolina and near the state line, some warm air will try to work it's way in, resulting in lower snow accumulations due to the precipitation mixing with or changing over to rain.

Credit: 13News Now

Winter Storm Warning in Virginia

That said, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of northeast North Carolina and eastern and southeast Virginia from Friday at 7 p.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday.

A Winer Storm Watch is in effect for the same timeframe for Hertford County North Carolina, as well as Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth in Virginia.

Credit: 13News Now

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach City Council met on Tuesday, January 14, and included in their discussions was an update on the status of the “Something in the Water” music festival and its commitment to the city.

However, it wasn't much of an update.

Amanda Jarratt, Deputy City Manager for the City of Virginia Beach explained that some of the people involved in planning the massive festival have been directly impacted by the wildfires in California. Jarratt promised a "more robust" update next Tuesday.

Plans for the festival have been a point of contention since for a while. Festival organizers missed a Dec. 31 deadline to drop a lineup and start ticket sales. The deadline was a stipulation in a contract between the city of Virginia Beach and Something in the Water.

Watch previous coverage: SITW gets more time for lineup, ticket sales after council vote

After the deadline was missed, City Council voted last week to give festival organizers more time. They’re also requiring weekly check-ins — and Tuesday's was the first since then.

Councilmember Michael Berlucchi asked Jarratt when they will find out a date for a lineup release. Jarratt implied she hopes to have that answer at the next update.

Mayor Bobby Dyer talked about how he hears from local businesses that want this to work. He stated, “If we really take a look at things, we give grace to a lot of people." He added, “To me, it is worth the effort we are taking.”

Earlier on Tuesday, News 3 reporter Angela Bohon talked with some Oceanfront businesses. The general manager of the Moxy Hotel loves the idea of festivals coming in the “shoulder season.”

"You know, on those off-seasons, many of us are just trying to keep the lights on and stuff like ‘Something in the Water’ and ‘Point Break’ and what that means is critical for us," said Matthew Korgsund, Moxy Hotel's general manager.

Watch previous coverage: Virginia Beach, Oceanfront businesses hope to hear timely updates on SITW going forward

News 3 has been extensively covering the issue, especially due to its major economic impact in the city. Additionally, the festival has been a highly-anticipated event since Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams launched the inaugural SITW back in 2019.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The new Dome down at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront is progressing to its final stage but it's not the only thing shaping up at Atlantic Park

For now, the sounds of construction still fill the air down at the Oceanfront.

"Oh construction, it's been a hellscape," Dwayne Appleton, who runs Java Surf Cafe and Espresso Bar, said.

Watch related coverage: New Virginia Beach Oceanfront wave park has local surfers stoked

Appleton said he's dealt with construction projects over the last 10 years while operating on 19th Street.

However, soon construction will be wrapping up on the new Dome venue.

"Both roads and utilities and just all the trucks and whatnot will be over with, May or June of next year probably in May," Councilman Worth Remick, said. "The venue will open in May of next year as of last Thursday."

Already two acts have been named for the new Dome including Kevin James in June and Papa Roach in September.

Watch related coverage: Surf's up! Atlantic Park hits construction milestone as they 'bottom out' wave pool

Appleton who can remember going to the original Dome before it was torn down 30 years ago said he knows the new venue will bring more foot traffic to the Vibe District.

"So the construction for the sports center is the same thing it has helped just bottom line there are more people in town for those events," Appleton said. "We're definitely looking forward to the dorm opening up as another destination for the Oceanfront, we're very excited about it."

Atlantic Park is set to have retail spaces and restaurants along with the wave park.

On Tuesday city leaders approved two outdoor cafes to be part of the upcoming entertainment venue.

Watch related coverage: Virginia Beach officials say Oceanfront music hall 'The Dome' will be 'iconic'

This includes Mi Vida Virginia Beach and Grill Virginia Beach.

With more still to be announced, city leaders feel this will not only bring more people to the Oceanfront but to other parts of Virginia Beach.

"I like the term or phrase a rising tide lifts all boats because that tide will be rising and will be on site but I am sure it will be off-site in that neighborhood, in that area, the Vibe, the Oceanfront," Remick said.

The city said additional details on who the first act will be to break into the new Dome will be announced in the coming weeks.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach could soon see the return of its beloved strawberry festival, but its location may be a little different.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Beach City Council voted to formally recognize "The Artery" as an official district that includes several businesses along the easternmost portion of Laskin Road—from just east of Birdneck Road to Atlantic Avenue.

The district, which has been around for a few years, was founded by Jesse Wykle, of Aloha Snacks.

Watch previous coverage: Pungo Strawberry Festival has been cancelled for the 5th year in a row. Here's why

Several restaurants and businesses make up the district.

Wykle told News 3's Jay Greene he plans to make the Artery a destination with its own identity, much like Norfolk's Neon District or the Beach's ViBe District that can be a venue for events.

"We're gonna throw great parties on Laskin road, and it's going to benefit local charities," he said. "We're going to raise money for charity, and we're going to support people in need."

Watch previous coverage: Historic Pungo Strawberry Fest cancelled, residents & businesses say that's 'a bummer'

Wykle also wants to resurrect the Pungo Strawberry Festival, which has been canceled for the last five years.

He's planning for an event in 2025.

"There's going to be a lot of strawberry vendors. We're going to do a beer collab with smart mouth pilot house," Wykle said. "We'll have bakers, we'll have vendors, we'll have bands, and we'll also have road closures along with open containers. We're going to call it a sip-and-stroll."

He said he wants the district to get a facelift with new bike racks and updated light posts.

Watch previous coverage: 2023 Pungo Strawberry Festival canceled, organizers say

Wykle told Greene that organizers are still trying to nail down an exact date for the strawberry festival.

"We want to make sure that we're not taking away from anything that's happening on a certain date in Norfolk or Virginia Beach," he said. "There's always going to be some fun stuff. And we want to be able to work with any city official to make these, these opportunities are accessible."

As far as a name for the festival, Wykle believes it should honor the event's past and present.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Camden Hoover, a 17-year-old from Virginia Beach, has been in over 150 surf competitions since she was 5.

“My dad taught me how to surf. He had me surfing before I could swim. I had a little life jacket on and he'd just pick me up and plop me right back on the board,” said Hoover.

To Camden, surfing is not just a hobby. It's a way of life.

“You’re flying down the wave and there's water. It's a magical feeling. It's hard to describe it.” said the surfer.

Watch previous coverage: Wave machine in construction for Virginia Beach's Atlantic Park project

So when talk of a wave park at the Oceanfront surfaced, Camden and other surfers, young and old, were excited.

The surf park is Beach native Joe LaMontagne’s baby. He got the idea from surfing at other surf lagoons. He felt like Virginia Beach, with its small and unreliable waves, needed a place like this.

“To have a place where you can train, surf waves on demand, is going to be very important to aspiring surfers in our area, people who want to go professional one day,” said LaMontagne.

Watch related coverage: Virginia Beach officials say Oceanfront music hall 'The Dome' will be 'iconic'

The 2.6-acre wave lagoon is part of the Atlantic Park project, a $350 million entertainment venue backed by singer and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams.

“It's very gratifying to see this passion come to life. This was always for my kids and all the kids that are aspiring surfers that want to grow up surfing,” said LaMontagne.

Kellam High grad and lifelong surfer Alec Yuzhbabenko is the lead architect on the Atlantic Park project. He says the wave park is for surfers and non-surfers alike.

“It's actually one of a kind in North America. It's the first of its kind in an urban environment capitalizing on the surf culture that's already here,” said Yuzhbabenko.

Watch related coverage: What's in the sponsorship agreement between Virginia Beach and Something in the Water?

He went on to say, "There’s a warming pool on the side, loungers, beach chairs. You can rent a cabana for the day and even if you’re not surfing, you can partake throughout this experience."

Set to open in spring of 2025, the wave lagoon will be operated by Beach Street USA.

“We’ll actually have seven different wave levels, from beginner up to a pro-level session,” said Blake Hess of Beach Street USA.

“It’s the best thing in the world. You can try something over and over until you get it right. You might not get that opportunity on a wave in the ocean because it's never the same wave,” said Hoover.

Made by locals for locals, the Atlantic Park Wavegarden is totally gnarly and positively Hampton Roads.