Tens of thousands of Dominion Energy customers across Hampton Roads lost electricity after a nor’easter blew salt spray onto power equipment, according to multiple local news outlets.
Estimates of the scale of the outages varied across reports. The Virginian-Pilot put the number of affected customers at roughly 20,000 in Norfolk and the surrounding region, while WTKR reported about 22,000 without power across Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the Peninsula. WAVY cited a higher figure of around 27,000 customers. The differing counts likely reflect shifting totals as crews worked to restore service and as the storm’s effects spread.
Salt blamed for the failures
Several outlets attributed the outages to salt buildup carried inland by the coastal storm. According to WTKR and WAVY, salt driven by the nor’easter accumulated on electrical equipment, a known hazard in coastal areas where airborne salt can cause arcing, short circuits and equipment faults. The problem tends to be most acute during strong onshore winds that push ocean spray across communities near the coast.
Salt contamination on insulators and other hardware can trigger flashovers, in which electricity jumps across the salty residue and interrupts service. Utilities in coastal regions periodically contend with the issue, particularly after storms deliver a mix of wind and sea spray without the heavy rainfall that might otherwise wash equipment clean.
Widespread impact across the region
The outages were reported across a broad stretch of Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the Peninsula, according to multiple reports. Thousands of homes and businesses were affected as the storm moved through the area.
Dominion Energy, the utility serving the region, was working to restore power, outlets report. Specific restoration timelines were not consistently detailed across the available reporting.
Residents in coastal communities are typically advised during such events to:
- Report outages directly to their utility and avoid downed power lines.
- Use flashlights rather than candles to reduce fire risk.
- Keep refrigerators and freezers closed to preserve food during extended outages.
- Monitor local authorities and the utility for restoration updates.
What remains unconfirmed
The exact number of customers affected could not be confirmed, as figures ranged from about 20,000 to 27,000 across the four outlets. A precise timeline for full restoration was also not established in the available reporting. The totals appeared to be fluid, consistent with an evolving storm-related event in which outage counts rise and fall as damage occurs and repairs are made.
The common thread across all reporting is clear: a nor’easter drove salt onto electrical infrastructure, causing widespread but likely temporary power disruptions throughout Hampton Roads. Further updates were expected as crews assessed damage and conditions improved.
Related coverage
- Power Restored in Downtown Norfolk After Outage Hits Thousands
- Dominion Energy Crews Work to Restore Power in Hampton Roads
- Winter Storm Snarls Hampton Roads Travel, Cuts Power
This report synthesizes coverage from multiple news outlets.
