Hurricane Earl expected to bring life-threatening rip currents through the weekend; Oceanside flooding possible

Hurricane Earl is expected to produce strong swells and an extended period of dangerous rip currents through the weekend, along with the possibility of minor oceanside flooding along the Outer Banks, per a Wednesday evening update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City Office.

“As a result of Hurricane Earl, we are becoming increasingly concerned about an extended period of life-threatening rip currents for all Eastern NC beaches through this weekend, and likely into early next week,” stated the NWS in the update. “Some of this swell is already reaching the coast, with a HIGH RISK for rip currents [for] all beaches Thursday.”

The NWS noted that dangerous rip currents would occur on otherwise nice beach days, citing similar conditions to 2019’s Hurricane Lorenzo. Lorenzo passed more than 2,000 miles offshore, but still caused the drowning deaths of four people in North Carolina.

In addition, minor oceanside coastal flooding will be possible for low-lying areas Thursday evening through the weekend, mainly during times of high tide. The main impacts will likely be north of Cape Hatteras, with persistent onshore winds and high astronomical tides. However, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) stated in a Wednesday update that they are not expecting any overwash issues to impact N.C. Highway 12 at this time.

As of 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Earl was located about 405 miles south of Bermuda, and was moving north near 8 mph (13 km/h). A turn towards the north-northeast is expected overnight, followed by a stronger turn to the northeast during the day on Thursday, as the system gradually accelerates.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts as of Wednesday evening. Significant strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Earl is expected to become a major hurricane tomorrow.

For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.