Increasing easterly swell energy from distant Tropical Cyclone Paulette will bring a strong longshore current and a high risk of rip currents today for all Outer Banks beaches.
Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water, and strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas. In many cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers
from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it difficult to return to shore, the National Weather Service says.
Tropical Storm Paulette was near hurricane strength with 70 mph sustained winds Saturday morning approaching Bermuda. Paulette is expected to take a turn to the east during the day Monday and shouldn’t pose a threat to the North Carolina coast.
Today will be breezy, with winds of about 20 mph and wind gusts up to 31 mph. Winds should die down a bit Sunday with sustained winds of 8-10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph for the Outer Banks.
