Super Windy On Southern OBX

Today, a strong low pressure system rolled north of the OBX and its center passed over the Tidewater region of Virginia. In Hatteras SW winds ramped up though mid morning into the upper 20s. By early afternoon, winds shifted west and ratcheted up to mid 30s with gust near 50. For windsurfing, the session was early with solid 4+m conditions. Ego Beach across from Canadian Hole was the call for the day with clean waves in the chest to slightly over head high range breaking on the outer bar. Skies were overcast with breaks of sun and occasional rain. It was a fun time while it lasted. Rather than the wind dying though, it actually strengthened and blew us off the water! I started on a 4.2m and enjoyed some fun wave rides; though, the wind strength was excessive on the outside. I lasted about 45 minutes before deciding to rig down. I put up a 3.7m but it was too big. Everyone came off the water, as conditions on the ocean changed when winds shifted straight offshore and blew nuclear. It was too much!

We decided to pack up and drive further south to see if we could find more manageable conditions on the southern facing beaches. Charlie, Dan, Jim, and I ended up at Hatteras Inlet. Charlie and Dan rigged 4.0m sails and I decided to pass since my smallest is a 3.7m. I would have needed a 2.8m to sail in control. Waves at Hatteras Inlet were overhead to logo high and fairly clean given the extremely strong side off winds.

I began the trek back north to Nags Head around 4:30pm. Winds continued to rage from the west, and reports were coming in of massive soundside flooding from Avon to Pea Island. As I passed though the northern section of Avon, indeed the sound waters flooded Rt 12 up to two feet deep! The road was flooded from north Avon to about 10 miles south of the Oregon Inlet Bridge. The lift and over-sized tires on my 4runner came in quite handy as I traversed northward. People in vehicles with lower ground clearance were not happy dealing with the flooding as the sound poured into Rt 12. When I got home, the first thing I did was extensively hose down the 4runner to remove the salt water.

All in all, pretty extreme and out of control conditions today!

Here are some more pics:

A visiting windsurfer rigging up at Canadian Hole


Caleb rigging up at the Canadian Hole parking lot for some time across the road at Ego Beach


Canadian Hole sound side action


A lone windsurfer out in nuclear conditions at Canadian Hole.


Charlie rigging up at Hatteras Inlet


Dan working to get the sail on the mast at Hatteras Inlet


Lots of blowing sand as winds rage in 40s


Dan and Charlie heading out at Hatteras Inlet


The top of Charlie's mast between the waves at Hatteras Inlet