Gnarly waves are rolling ashore at Cape Hatteras National Seashore thanks to the passing of Hurricane Bill, dude, but that has park officials urging folks to be careful out there.
While the higher-than-usual surf might be awfully tempting to East Coast long-boarders, seashore officials are closing their beaches to off-road vehicles and warning of strong rip currents, high waves, beach erosion, and unpredictable winds.
During periods of high tides, which will occur Saturday morning at 9:22 a.m., Saturday night at 9:38 p.m., and Sunday morning at 10:11 a.m., the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore will be closed to off-road vehicles due to unsafe conditions, the seashore announced. "Shorelines will experience strong ocean rip currents making water activities extremely dangerous and park visitors are encouraged to stay out of the water until the storm passes and surf conditions improve," officials said.
All National Park Service campgrounds and park visitor centers were expected to remain open.
Comments
Sadly, this ol' "Gnarly Surfer Dude" is land-locked 250 miles from shore, but such is life...
I will add this bit of GREAT news that precedes this storm:
CHNSRA NPS biotechs were able to rescue ~200 pre-emergent/emerging turtle hatchlings prior to the storm surge, as well as relocating several other newer nests to higher ground! Said hatchlings will be released after the storm passes.
Local rental agencies have advised non-residents to leave prior to sunrise on 8/23, as Rt. 12 is expected to overwash during times of high tide in several places along the seashore during Bill's passage through Sunday.
NCDOT Ferry traffic between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands may also be suspended due to swell levels in the inlet, if necessary.
Bill is expected to be mainly a wave event for CHNSRA, and should be exiting by the beginning of next week. This is the first tropical cyclone to affect the East Coast and CHNSRA in 2009, ending what has been a very quiet spring and early summer Hurricane season.
damage report? where on 12?