2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Off to an Early Start!

2016 Atlantic Storms thus far source: Wikipedia

Bonnie last week, Colin this week.... Alex back in January, we have had quite early tropical activity in the Atlantic this year.  Bonnie last week dumped copious amounts of rain on the OBX flooding much of Rt12 in the Tri Village (Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo), sections of the road on Pea Island, and central Avon.  With Colin's rain scheduled to come in next, looks like we will not be drying out anytime soon.

Usually with tropical systems in the area, we are amped for the wind/wavesailing potential.  However, these two storms are primarily rain makers with minimal surf and inconsistent winds among the rain bands.  Nothing to get too excited about.

Yesterday (Sunday, June 5) we had some fun SSW wind across the islands with sunny skies and small surf.  A fun sesh "between storms!"  I caught it at Coqunia Beach which has some really nice outside sandbars this year; however, unfortunately without a solid swell period, the surf is pretty weak.  If only these named storms were 300 miles off Hatteras rather than spawning off FL and riding up from the south along the coast!  Oh well, we are early in the season and with the forecast La Nina this summer, perhaps we will see some more action in the Atlantic to spice up the surf conditions along the OBX?!  I remember 2005 as the year we had 28 named storms and near chest+ surf daily all summer.  Unfortunately that was also the year of Katrina, however, for summer-time OBX surf, we can only rely on named storms to provide the engine for the swell.  Lets hope for a year of named storms which remain well off the US mainland and simply run "The Slot" between Hatteras and Bermuda!