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This is Hurricane Earl this morning from space (thanks to NASA for the image). You can see the outside edges of the storm approach our coast.

Thursday September 2, 2010

9:18a Pamlico County has declared a state of emergency due to the threat of Hurricane Earl. There is a voluntary evacuation. An emergency shelter is available at Pamlico Community College in Grantsboro.

At 8am Earl was 355 miles south of Cape Hatteras. Earl is now expected to arrive off our coast as a Category Four storm.

6:15a At 5am Earl was about 410 miles south of Cape Hatteras, moving toward the north-northwest at 18 mph. Maximum winds are now 145 mph, with higher gusts… Earl is expected to gradually weaken today, with winds expected about 130 mph as Earl arrives off North Carolina.

The computer models are all in tight agreement on Earl’s probable path – the center of Earl will pass near the Outer Banks tonight.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from Earl’s center, tropical storm force winds can be felt up to 230 miles from Earl.

We can expect to feel tropical storm level winds starting later this afternoon – tonight that will become hurricane force winds.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting a 3 to 5 foot storm surge. Previous experience causes us to express concern that this may be understating the threat to our area. In the past predictions of storm surge have been low – the northerly winds forcing all that Pamlico Sound water down into a small area can cause higher surge levels in Oriental. It has happened before.

Expect rainfall accumulations of 2 – 4 inches, with even 6 inches possible over eastern North Carolina.

Links to follow:

• Hurricane Earl Tracking Chart

• Hurricane Earl Forecasters Discussion and Computer Models

• Hurricane Earl Public Advisory

• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

• Local Weather Radar

At this time TownDock.net intends to publish throughout the storm tonight. The generator is ready, and we will do our best to maintain an online feed. TownDock.net’s server is not in peril (we maintain a server inland at a McLean, VA data center), however hurricane conditions can cause internet access to fail and affect our ability to update new information. We will use our best efforts to keep the news coming…

Wednesday September 1, 2010

7:28p Earl may be a big mean storm, but he has his beauty:

(image courtesy NOAA)

While Earl is a Category Four Storm – it is projected to lower to a Category 3 Storm with 115 mph winds as it passes the NC coast. The eye is forecast to be off the coast at 2am early Friday morning. Expect storm conditions to begin Thursday evening.

5:10p The 5pm update on Earl isn’t good news. The track has drifted slightly more west and very close to the NC coast. Winds are now at 135 mph – Earl is again a Category FOUR storm. Earl is currently about 630 miles SSE Of Cape Hatteras, moving NW at 17 mph.

From the National Hurricane Center:

A warning of 3-5 ft surge could mean even more for locations particularly affected by wind tides. That means us. If Earl passes slowly with hurricane force northerly winds driving waters from the Pamlico Sound south into the Neuse, our surge might be even higher.

11:35a Yet another storm has formed in the Atlantic – closer to Africa than us is Tropical Depression 9. As this storm strengthens it will be named “Gaston”. But Gaston is far off and no probable threat as of now.

All eyes are on Category 3 Hurricane Earl. Earl has 125 mph winds moving NW at 17 mph. The projected track takes Earl just off the NC coast – which could very likely give us hurricane strength winds in Oriental. Earl’s powerful winds could cause an enormous surge. We are now officially under a HURRICANE WARNING.

If you need a reminder of what a hurricane caused surge can do – take a look at the harbor during Hurricane Isabel. That surge was an estimated 8-9 feet.

6:32a A very small difference in Hurricane Earl’s track north will make the difference of whether we experience hurricane force winds or “just” tropical storm winds. The computer model guidance has Earl a bit closer to our coast – the problem is just a tiny bit farther west will mean a huge difference in the winds (and potential flooding) we may experience.

Links to follow:

• Hurricane Earl Tracking Chart

• Hurricane Earl Forecasters Discussion and Computer Models

• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast
  a good guide to forecast wind direction and intensity

• Southeast US Weather Radar

• Local Weather Radar

This is going to be a long day – as it’s all hands on deck now to get ready for a storm’s visit.

Tuesday August 31, 2010

Category FOUR. 135 mile-an-hour winds. His name is Earl. Hurricane Earl’s projected track is pointed right at us – with an important turn forecast to take place late Thursday / early Friday morning. That turn will take the eye of Earl on a northeast course away from our coast – however we can expect tropical storm force winds from Earl’s outer bands to visit. With Earl passing to our east we will get northerly winds – the winds that force water down the sound and cause flooding in Oriental.

And just to make life interesting, right on the heels of Earl is Tropical Storm Fiona. Fiona’s path appears to be more easterly and is not currently forecast to be as close to the US east coast.

If good fences make good neighbors, bad fences make for good teardowns. That was the case yesterday when a crew took out most of the unauthorized fence that for 15 years blocked the public’s access to the end of South Avenue. Now, as some residents who’ve gone by there have found, you can actually see the inner AND outer harbor, the boats and even the bridge. And it’s all public access. If you can’t get down there today to see it, you can check the story and photos right here.

A heartfelt thank you from the TownDock crew for your notes and condolences about Ceilidh’s passing this weekend. (We always thought more people knew her than us and this has confirmed it….) We appreciate it. Thank you.

Looking at What’s Happening, the Planning Board meets tonight. Tomorrow, CK Full Cirle’s at the Silos (which has launched a Wednesday Acoustic Music Night). There’s a Town Board agenda meeting Thursday, and the return of the Oar Race and Michelob Cup to Oriental this weekend.

Sunday August 29, 2010

We’ve had a rough few days here at TownDock. Our dog, Ceilidh, became quite ill this week and died yesterday. Ceilidh lived half of her 15 years in Oriental and was part of the greeting party at the Bean and Town Dock environs. We take solace in knowing she had a great romp in her life here.

The Oriental Weather Forecast is giving us a high of only 85 today. Enjoy it – we’re going to be back up in the 90’s most days this week. The nights though, look to be consistently cooler. It’s a gift to have the option to sleep without AC…

When you turn on the tap tomorrow, the water may smell more like chlorine than usual. That’ll be the case for about two weeks as the town switches temporarily to a different way of making the water clean.

The village has one less physical therapist this month. Jennifer Smart, who usually tends to aching patients in Oriental, flew to Haiti this weekend. Jen, who’s just finished her PhD (on top of a career as a PT) is in Haiti to train other physical therapists.

Thursday August 26, 2010

Ahhhhhhh… that was the sound yesterday of one house in town breathing a sigh of relief as it inhaled some fresh air for the first time in forever. The Oriental Weather Station reminds us that it was 83 degrees, but it felt relatively cool and was the first day that we could click off the AC and open some windows. That may not be as easily done today. The Oriental Weather Forecast has highs back up in the upper 80’s though the couple of days after that may be cooler….

This afternoon the Town Board holds a special meeting. Topping the agenda, appointment of an interim Town Manager, as the Town sorts out what form of govt we have. Click here for more details. If you prefer drumbeats, the Drumming Dragons are out at Lou Mac Park as they are most Thursday nights in the summer….. Details are at What’s Happening.

Oriental’s harbor saw a lot of shrimping trawlers this summer. We have the story and photos of what happens to the shrimp once it gets to the harbor…

Wednesday August 25, 2010

Usually a hurricane out in the Atlantic has us nervous, but Hurricane Danielle is forecast to stay away from our coast, with a track that takes it just east of Bermuda. Another storm (this would be “Earl”) is brewing just off Africa – it is expected to follow a similar path… staying out to sea.

The next few days have highs in the mid to high 80s, but the Oriental NC Weather Forecast is finally giving signs of autumn’s approach – nightly lows getting in to the 60’s.

Another way to beat the heat is enjoy the outdoors before the heat of day strikes. That’s what today’s Dock Quote suggests and it’s something we’ve been doing in recent weeks – venturing out before sunrise onboard “Webster”, the TownDock news boat. We head up the creeks around Oriental… finding scenes to share online. Today’s cover photo is one example.

Wednesday means there’s sailboat racing out on the river come late afternoon. The Tourism Board holds its monthly meeting tonight. And tomorrow, the Town Board meets in a special session.
Details are in What’s Happening.

Tuesday August 24, 2010

If you didn’t get down to the river Saturday to see the first Dragon Boat race in Oriental, you can now see the photos along with the story about the race. It seems a tradition may have been born, along with the possibility of a Dragon Boat Association in Oriental building its own dragon boat for year round use.

Meanwhile, a Labor Day tradition returns this year. It’s been about 8 years since the Michelob Cup race was run between Oriental and New Bern. This year, it’s back. There’s also an Oar Race from New Bern to Oriental. We have the story on the homegrown race and its connection to Dunkirk.

Decades ago, Ev Pfeifer helped found St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Oriental. Tonight, the church is organizing a gathering offriends and family at the OWC for a remembrance of Ev, who passed away this spring. They’re calling it a “Fond Farewell.” We have more details at What’s Happening.

As for the weather – hot and a 50-50 chance of showers today. The Oriental Weather Forecast has more details. If it’s something more illusory you’re after… click here for an icy scene at the Town Dock in January.

Monday August 23, 2010

Much positive buzz in town following Saturday’s Dragon Boat Races, a first for Oriental. Deaton’s team, “Paddle Mania” won — they churned thru the water. And there’s talk of now setting up an Oriental Dragon Boat Association and making a dragon boat or two of our own so that paddlers can practice and even compete against other city’s teams over the course of the year. More photos and news of the race coming……

What a welcome sound the rain was last night. Just over an inch fell before midnight. Plants are happy, and though it’s still muggy, it seems to have knocked the temps down a few degrees. The Oriental Weather Forecast has temps in the upper 80s this week and even some decent sleeping weather.

Saturday August 21, 2010

5:38p Congratulations to the team from Deatons which handily won today’s First Annual Dragon Boat Festival. A breezy August day served up 10-15 mph winds across the Neuse and created a challenging 200 meter run for the 9 teams that competed races. We’ll have a full account and photos — lots of photos — coming….

6:00a Do you have a slip where a boat can stay for a little while the Oriental History Museum tries to sell it? This is a first for the museum; a sailboat has been donated – it’s a Columbia 36 that Jack and Becca Crutchfield owned. Jack passed away this year and in part because Jack loved coming to Oriental so much, Becca’s decided the town’s history museum should get the proceeds of the sale. But in the meantime… the boat needs a temporary home…

The Dragon Boat races are underway today. You can watch from shore. The teams were out on the water Friday afternoon and early evening, practicing and getting used to the 46 foot long boats. We have a collection of photos of the practice.

August isn’t relenting. Highs hovering around 90 degrees yet again today. But if you want to look at the Oriental Weather Forecast as a glass half-full, you’ll see that the nighttime lows are budging down toward the 60’s. Relief may yet arrive before we all melt….

Besides the Dragon Race today, there’s the Farmers Market and this morning at Town Hall, a workshop on monitoring oyster spats (no, it’s not fancy footwear nor bivalve fights). At Paradise Cove Marina tonight, Bob Laverty’s playing. Might want to get that Paradise potluck experience in as we’re told Paul’s closing the marina for the season in a few weeks. What’s Happening has more details…

Thursday August 19, 2010

We’ve got a 60% chance of thunder and rain today. If only it would knock the temps way down, but the Oriental Weather Forecast doesn’t see that happening for a while. Well, we’ll take the precip anyway. The tomatoes will like it…

One thing that cuts thru the summer haze and brings a smile has been the sight of the Optimist dinghies bobbing out on the water and then skimming along gracefully as kids in the Bow to Stern Summer Sailing Program learn how to use them. You have just another day or two to take in that view, because the school’s third summer comes to a close on Friday.. and on a high note at that. The kids from the Bow to Stern camp took seven of the top ten places at the recent Hoop Regatta. We have the story here.

Oriental’s harbor has also been a hopping place this summer with what seems to have been an abundant shrimp harvest. Last weekend the trawlers tied up across the harbor in such as way that it seemed daunting for smaller craft to eake through. We have a photo essay on that, too.

Thursday means the Drummin’ Dragons should be down at Lou Mac Park tonight. They welcome you to join in.. they’ll even supply you with a drum. Lots going on in town this weekend. The Dragon Boat events get started on Friday, and continue on Saturday. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in oysters and efforts to boost their population, you can learn how to become an oyster spat monitor. (Honest.) Those events and our ever-updated listing of goings on are atWhat’s Happening.