An Extra Day on Hatteras Because of the Noreaster 9/23/2008

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
THE GRADIENT BETWEEN STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHEAST AND A DEVELOPING COASTAL LOW OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST WILL LEAD TO THE OCCURRENCE OF STRONG NORTHEAST TO NORTH WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ACROSS COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA BEGINNING TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE VERY LARGE SEAS OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST REACHING A PEAK OF 15 TO 20 FEET WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE STRONG NORTHEAST TO NORTH WINDS WILL PRODUCE HIGH WATER
LEVELS. WATERS LEVELS OF AS MUCH AS 5 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE NORTHERN OUTER BANKS...WHICH WILL LEAD TO OVER WASH ALONG HIGHWAY 12...MAKING IT IMPASSABLE AT TIMES. THE ONSHORE FLOW AND LARGE SEAS WILL LEAD TO ROUGH SURF AND
SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION ALONG THE EAST FACING BEACHES NORTH OF HATTERAS WITH BREAKERS OF 8 FEET OR HIGHER EXPECTED TONIGHT AND CONTINUING ON WEDNESDAY. THE WINDS...DANGEROUS SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT THURSDAY...THE HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT THURSDAY.STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER NEW ENGLAND COUPLED WITH DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE OFF THE CAROLINA COAST WILL PRODUCE STRONG NORTH TO
NORTHEAST WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH FROM DOWN EAST CARTERET COUNTY ACROSS TO THE OUTER BANKS. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREA SHOULD TAKE ACTION TODAY TO PREPARE FOR THE VERY WINDY CONDITIONS. A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Well above is what we are facing today and tonight and we have decided, or should we say the weather has decided, that we will have to stay at least another day here on the Outer Banks. They are predicting 2-4" of rain today and tonight but that really isn't what the problem is going to be. The high winds and high storm surge are what we are dealing with as far as not being able to leave today. When the winds and waves are as high as they are predicted to be RT 12 floods up toward Oregon Inlet and they close the roads and when the winds are predicted to be 40 MPH+ they will close all the bridges back onto the mainland. So here we are for at least another day.
We didn't do anything yesterday as I worked on the blog and Mom went for a couple of walks and watched some TV. We did take a drive down to the beach to see the wild and wooly surf rolling in. The wind is making it hard to even open the door of the coach to go in and out. We had dinner as Mom made a great new dish and the we watched some TV till it was time to go to bed. Well until tomorrow, we hope, from the windy rainy Outer Banks we love you all. Mom & Dad


Picture List:1-This is the house where the "Nights of Rodanthe" was filmed, 2,3,4,5-The wild ocean on Wednesday morning, 6,7-Mad Mad Hatteras store, 8,9,10,11-The ocean on Tuesday morning, 12-Welcome to Avon Historically named Kinnakeet, 13,14,15,16-Sands of Time Campgrounds, 17,18-Kinnakeet water tower.