Storm?

Yesterday the weather forecast was calling for strong winds (with gusts up to 60mph) after midnight and throughout today, along with high tides and coastal flooding. Most of the visitors, anticipating ocean overwash on NC highway 12, left the island yesterday. A friend who traveled home down the Outer Banks on Saturday said there was a steady stream of north-bound traffic that made it impossible to pass (but since he was almost the only car heading south he never needed to pass!).

Right now (it's almost 3:30 in the afternoon) the wind gusts are probably little more than 20 - 25 miles an hour, but appear to be increasing. The trees are swaying and the windows are starting to rattle (sort of like a mini hurricane). At any rate, we have not gotten anywhere near 60 mph winds, at least not yet. Only time will tell if we have significant tides and/or flooding later this evening or early tomorrow morning. Just in case, I've put my car up on a small hill.

Since most visitors left yesterday many island shops, including Village Craftsmen, closed for today. It was a good day to catch up on long-neglected chores. But I'm ready to quit now. Some friends are coming over for dinner tonight, so I suppose I'd better go put something on the stove. I'll let you know tomorrow if this storm amounts to anything.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter tells how to make a traditional wooden whistle from a myrtle branch. You can read the newsletter here.