...CENTER OF EARL PASSING JUST EAST OF THE OUTER BANKS...
.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
WASHINGTON...TYRRELL...MAINLAND DARE...BEAUFORT...MAINLAND HYDE...
CRAVEN...PAMLICO...CARTERET...OUTER BANKS DARE AND OUTER BANKS
HYDE COUNTIES AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS AND SOUNDS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
ONSLOW COUNTY.
.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 34.6N...LONGITUDE 74.3W. THIS WAS ABOUT 85 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF BUXTON NC. STORM MOTION WAS NNE OR 15 DEGREES
AT 18 MPH. STORM INTENSITY WAS 105 MPH.
.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
HURRICANE EARL IS MAKING ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO NC AND TRACKING
JUST OFFSHORE OF THE COAST. WINDS ARE SOLID TROPICAL STORM
FORCE ALONG THE SOUNDS...EASTERN CARTERET COUNTY...OUTER BANKS...AND
IN THE COASTAL WATERS.
WIND GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THE OUTER BANKS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...ESPECIALLY IN HEAVIER
SHOWER BANDS. THERE IS A THREAT OF WIND DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES
AT THESE LOCATIONS. WINDS ARE DIMINISHING SOUTH AND WEST OF CAPE
LOOKOUT.
STORM SURGE OF 2 TO 4 FEET IS POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST FROM CAPE
HATTERAS NORTH...IN THE SOUNDS FROM THE LOWER NEUSE RIVER THROUGH
DOWNEAST CARTERET COUNTY...AND ALONG THE BACKSIDE OF OCRACOKE AND
HATTERAS ISLANDS.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE
OVERNIGHT ALONG THE OUTER BANKS...AND AN INCH OR LESS ELSEWHERE
WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS.
SIGNIFICANT SWELLS WILL BRING A HIGH RISK OF STRONG RIP CURRENTS
TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. LARGE BREAKING WAVES OF 15 FEET OR HIGHER
ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE OUTER BANKS FROM CAPE HATTERAS NORTHWARD.
CONTINUING SURGE COMBINED WITH SIGNIFICANT WAVE ACTION WILL RESULT
IN COASTAL EROSION AND OVERWASH ALONG THE OUTER BANKS FROM CAPE
HATTERAS AND NORTH. HIGHWAY 12 HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO OVERWASH IN
MIRLO BEACH...JUST SOUTH OF THE BONNER BRIDGE.
&&
.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY AROUND 6 AM EDT...OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...
...NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED WIND...AND STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
...WINDS...
WINDS ARE DIMINISHING OVER THE AREA. HOWEVER ISOLATED AREAS OF
WINDS IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE...MAINLY IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY NEAR THE
BEACHES.  NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM WINDS ARE EXPECTED.
...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
BREAKING WAVES HAVE LIKELY PEAKED AT AROUND 10 TO 15 FT AND WILL
DIMINISH BELOW 10 FEET BY DAYBREAK. STORM SURGE IS NO LONGER EXPECTED TO
BE A FACTOR. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE BEACH EROSION THROUGH DAYBREAK.
...COASTAL HAZARDS...
THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES
THROUGH TODAY. DUE TO RIP CURRENTS AND ROUGH SURF...BEACH GOERS
ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

THREE SHELTERS ARE OPEN IN ONSLOW COUNTY...DIXON MIDDLE SCHOOL...
SWANSBORO HIGH SCHOOL...AND JACKSONVILLE COMMONS MIDDLE.
JACKSONVILLE COMMONS MIDDLE IS ANIMAL FRIENDLY.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...
AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH
CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS A
RESULT OF THE CULMINATION OF MID TO UPPER 90 DEGREE AFTERNOON
READINGS...25 TO 30 PERCENT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AND
WESTERLY WINDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH WITH A FEW HIGHER GUSTS. THE SEA
BREEZE WILL BE PINNED TO THE IMMEDIATE COAST FOR THE MAJORITY OF
THE AFTERNOON RESULTING IN THE ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXTENDING ALL
THE WAY TO THE COAST.
OUTDOOR BURNING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. IF ANY TYPE OF BURNING IS
CONDUCTED TODAY...EXTREME CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED. TAKE STEPS
TO PREVENT BRUSH OR GRASS FIRES BY PROPERLY EXTINGUISHING SMOKING
MATERIALS.

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY.
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS WILL CONTINUE TO KNOCK
DOWN THE RESIDUAL SEAS PRODUCED BY HURRICANE EARL AS IT PASSED
BY...AND WELL OFFSHORE FROM THE AREA. EXPECT 5 TO 7 FOOT SURF
ACROSS THE AREA BEACHES THIS MORNING...WITH A CONTINUED SLOW
DECREASING TREND THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY.
THE MODEST SURF WILL REMAIN CONDUCIVE FOR DANGEROUS AND STRONG RIP
CURRENTS AND FOR THAT REASON A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK WILL REMAIN
POSTED FOR ALL AREA BEACHES. WITH A NEW MOON BY THIS HOLIDAY
WEEKEND...TIDES WILL BE CLOSE TO THEIR LOWEST FOR THE MONTH. THIS
WILL AID RIP CURRENT ACTIVITY ESPECIALLY IF RESIDUAL SWELLS
CONTINUE.
NAVIGATING TO AND FROM THE ATLANTIC VIA AREA INLETS...WILL REMAIN
HAZARDOUS TO MARINE TRAFFIC...ESPECIALLY DURING THE FALLING TIDE
WHEN STANDING WAVES WILL OCCUR. LOW TIDE THIS MORNING WILL BE AROUND
9 AM.
REMEMBER...IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE
UNTIL THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT HAS SUBSIDED. RIP CURRENTS CAN
BECOME LIFE THREATENING TO ANYONE WHO ENTERS THE SURF. IT IS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT IF TRAVELING TO THE BEACH YOU STAY OUT OF
THE WATER ENTIRELY. REMEMBER TO HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND
THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO POSTED FLAGS AND SIGNS.
&&
PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
&&

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING AWAY FROM
SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY.
WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS WILL CONTINUE TO KNOCK
DOWN THE RESIDUAL SEAS PRODUCED BY HURRICANE EARL AS IT PASSED
BY...AND WELL OFFSHORE FROM THE AREA. EXPECT 5 TO 7 FOOT SURF
ACROSS THE AREA BEACHES THIS MORNING...WITH A CONTINUED SLOW
DECREASING TREND THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY.
THE MODEST SURF WILL REMAIN CONDUCIVE FOR DANGEROUS AND STRONG RIP
CURRENTS AND FOR THAT REASON A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK WILL REMAIN
POSTED FOR ALL AREA BEACHES. WITH A NEW MOON BY THIS HOLIDAY
WEEKEND...TIDES WILL BE CLOSE TO THEIR LOWEST FOR THE MONTH. THIS
WILL AID RIP CURRENT ACTIVITY ESPECIALLY IF RESIDUAL SWELLS
CONTINUE.
NAVIGATING TO AND FROM THE ATLANTIC VIA AREA INLETS...WILL REMAIN
HAZARDOUS TO MARINE TRAFFIC...ESPECIALLY DURING THE FALLING TIDE
WHEN STANDING WAVES WILL OCCUR. LOW TIDE THIS MORNING WILL BE AROUND
9 AM.
REMEMBER...IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE
UNTIL THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT HAS SUBSIDED. RIP CURRENTS CAN
BECOME LIFE THREATENING TO ANYONE WHO ENTERS THE SURF. IT IS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT IF TRAVELING TO THE BEACH YOU STAY OUT OF
THE WATER ENTIRELY. REMEMBER TO HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND
THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO POSTED FLAGS AND SIGNS.
&&
PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
&&

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING AWAY FROM
SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH
PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.