Hurricane Kirk may bring rip currents, rough surf, ocean overwash to the Outer Banks
Though Hurricane Kirk is expected to pass well east of North Carolina, a powerful long period swell stemming from the storm will lead to an increased risk of coastal impacts this weekend into early next week, according to an update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office.
“Hurricane Kirk, while well east of Bermuda, is a very strong storm with winds in excess of 145 mph, and is generating a lot of strong swell,” stated the NWS in the Friday morning update. “This swell is forecast to begin arriving at area beaches Sunday, peaking Monday into Tuesday, and subsiding slowly through the rest of the work-week.”
The most probable impacts are an increased rip current risk and rough surf. Ocean-side coastal flooding is also possible with the increased wave action, bringing the potential for ocean overwash and beach erosion, especially in vulnerable areas that have experienced overwash issues for the past few weeks.
A high risk of rip currents is in effect for Outer Banks beaches from Cape Point in Buxton to Corolla for Friday, Oct. 4.
A moderate risk of rip currents is in effect for southern Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.
A list of local Outer Banks resources for additional information is below.
- For information on the local forecast, visit 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/.
- For updates regarding road conditions, visit DriveNC.gov and follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on its Facebook page.
- To get notified of ferry delays or cancellations, sign up for text and/or email alerts via the N.C. Ferry System’s FINS system: www.ncdot.gov/fins.
- For rip current information and other beach hazards, sign up for text alerts from Dare County, ocean rescue agencies, and the National Weather Service by texting “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295.
