We’re back to almost normal here on the Outer Banks. After three days of a cold, driving wind off the ocean with intermittent showers, the sun finally came out again today and the temperatures were right where they were supposed to be in the mid 70s.
Actually the northeaster left the coast on Thursday, but it took to full days for the weather to get back to normal. Certainly Friday and Saturday were real improvements over what was happening earlier in the week, but it was still cool and overcast.
Out on the beach there is no doubt that a very powerful storm has passed. The dunes are carved out, looking almost like miniature cliffs and the beach is a little more narrow than usual.
The remarkable thing about all of this, though, is by summer, there will be almost no sign of that May nor’easter. Sand will accrete on the beach and the dunes will smooth out once again.
There was, to be sure, some loss of sand, especially in Kitty Hawk, but not enough to change how desirable the beach still is. That incremental loss of sand, however, is why beach nourishment is needed every five years or so. Expensive and disruptive while it’s ongoing, but an important part of keeping homes, businesses and roads protected. It’s nice that a byproduct of that is a nice wide beach with soft sand.
Looking ahead, there are some storms forecast for tomorrow late afternoon. After that through the weekend, the weather looks excellent.
We’re certainly gearing up for summer. Traffic is picking up at a rapid pace on our roads; we’re seeing more out of state license plates every day. That is the pattern we’re used to and look forward to every summer.
If you have not made your Brindley Beach Vacations reservations yet, take a look at our fall availability. The autumn is a wonderful time on the Outer Banks.