UPDATED: Tropical Storm Fay leaves behind rip currents for the Outer Banks

July 9, 2020 Sam Walker
The trailing edge of Fay is off to the northeast, while surfers take advantage of the residual swell off Nags Head on July 10, 2020. [Sam Walker photo]

While Tropical Storm Fay formed just off Cape Hatteras on Thursday, the only impacts along the Outer Banks turned out to be just scattered downpours, rough shore break, and numerous rip currents which are expected to continue today.

The storm set a record for the earliest date that the sixth named storm of a hurricane season has formed in the Atlantic basin.

There is high risk of rip currents for all beaches. Everyone is advised to stay out of the ocean from Corolla to Ocracoke.

Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. They can happen at anytime, but especially a couple hours either side of low tide.

Rainfall amounts have already topped five inches in some locations along the Delmarva Peninsula, with flash flooding reported in multiple locations from Ocean City, Maryland to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

At 8 a.m. Friday, the center of Tropical Storm Fay was located by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 37.6 North, longitude 74.7 West.

Fay is moving toward the north near 10 mph (17 km/h). A northward to north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected over the next couple of days.

On the forecast track, the center of Fay is forecast to move near the mid-Atlantic coast today and move inland
over the mid-Atlantic or the northeast United States late tonight or on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts.

Little change in strength is forecast today and tonight while the center remains over water. Weakening should begin after the center moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) from the center. A Weatherflow station at Lewes, Delaware recently reported a sustained wind of 33 mph (54 km/h) and a wind gust of 39 mph (63 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure based on aircraft data is 999 mb (29.50 inches).

National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Friday 9 a.m.

Today
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 79. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 78.
Wednesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 78.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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About Sam Walker 1512 Articles
Sam Walker was news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3 from August 2011 to March 2022.
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