From our news services
The National Weather Forecast Service out of Newport/Morehead City today (Sept. 30) is warning that despite Hurricane Sam remaining well out to sea this weekend, large swells created by this category 4 storm will create dangerous, life-threatening rip currents and shore break.
Shorebreak is an unpredictable and dangerous ocean condition when waves break directly onshore. Shorebreak can happen when there is a rapid transition from deep to shallow water. Its powerful energy can knock anyone in the water off of their feet and drive them into the ocean floor, especially in shallow water.
Some increase in swells will occur Friday, but the most dangerous conditions on the beaches will be Saturday and into Sunday.
At this time, there are no major storms threats for the Outer Banks.
Tropical Storm Victor formed on Wednesday in the eastern Atlantic, becoming the 20th named storm of the busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Hurricane Center reported today that Victor was about 550 miles south-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, off the west coast of Africa, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
The storm was moving west-northwest at about 13 mph and could strengthen into a hurricane on Friday, the center said.
The storm was not expected to affect any land over the next few days and while the National Weather Service predicts fair weather with sunshine and highs near 80 on Saturday and Sunday, the NWS urges all to beware of the dangerous rip currents from the distant storm.
In early October 2019 distant Hurricane Lorenzo killed four people along N.C. beaches during a similar period of nice weather.
