Rip Current in North Carolina, July 24, 2009

Name: Rip Current in North Carolina, July 24, 2009
Start: 2009-07-24T16:00
End: 2009-07-24T16:00
Location: North Carolina

July 24, 2009 · NWS MHX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A 43 year old man was swept out to sea by a rip current off Hatteras Village and drowned.

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MHX wrote it up.

A 43 year old man was swept out to sea by a rip current off Hatteras Village and drowned.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 24, 3:35 PM EST, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 24, 3:35 PM EST, 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
435 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
A STALLED FRONT OVER CENTRAL NC WILL DIMINISH TO A TROUGH OF LOW
PRES TONIGHT AND SAT. THE TROUGH WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY TO
THE WEST OF THE AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK WHILE
HIGH PRESSURE STRENGTHENS OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
ONGOING PCPN WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING AND CONTINUED 60 POPS FOR
AREAS ALONG AND E OF HWY 17. UPR FLOW WILL BECOME MORE ZONAL
OVERNIGHT AS UPR TROF LIFTS NE. THIS WILL LIMIT OVERNIGHT CONVECTIVE
ACTIVITY TO COASTAL SECTIONS AND WILL CARRY 20/30 POPS THERE WITH NO
POPS INLAND. WITH CLEARING SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS...FOG LIKELY
OVERNIGHT FOR INLAND SECTIONS THAT RECEIVED PCPN THIS AFTN. MIN
TEMPS A BIT TRICKY FOR RAIN COOLED AREAS WHERE CURRENT TEMPS ALREADY
BELOW MOS GDNC. TEMPS WILL GRADUALLY MODIFY THIS EVE HOWEVER...MOS
BLEND OK FOR REST OF AREA.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
SOME SUBSIDENCE LIKELY OVER AREA SAT LIMITING POPS TO 20%. UPR
TROFFING AND SHRT WV ACTIVITY WILL AFFECT AREA SUN-MON NIGHT
WARRANTING 30-40% POPS. SEA BREEZE WILL BE MAIN SFC FOCUS FEATURE AS
THERMAL SFC TROF WILL REMAIN MAINLY INLAND DURING PERIOD. COLD FRONT
WILL APPROACH FROM NW MON AND MON NIGHT. MOS BLEND LOOKS GOOD FOR
TEMPS...GENERALLY 3-5 DEGS ABOVE NORMAL DURING PERIOD.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
MED RANGE MODELS INDICAING UPR TROF OVER CENTRAL CAN RELAXING
DURING PERIOD...LEADING TO RIDGING SFC AND ALOFT OVER SE US. THIS
WILL LEAD TO SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPS AND MORE TYPICAL SUMMER
CONDITIONS. TIMING WEAK SHRT WVS WILL BE PROBLEMATIC...THUS LEANED
TO CLIMO 20-40 DIURNAL POPS DURING PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 315 PM...AFTERNOON TSRA AT EWN/OAJ MAY HAVE PROVIDED ENOUGH
RAINFALL FOR AIRPORTS TO SEE VSBYS DROP TO MVFR AND POSSIBLY IFR
OVERNIGHT. FOR INLAND PGV/ISO THE NW WINDS AND LACK OF RAINFALL
WILL LIKELY PREVENT IFR CONDITIONS...HOWEVER HIGH TD/M CLR
SKIES/AND CALM WINDS COULD STILL TRIGGER SOME PATCHY MVFR FOG
LATE.

SW FLOW WILL BE PREDOMINANT FOR THE REST OF THE FCST WITH ISO/SCT
TSRA...MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING HOURS.

&&

.MARINE...
AS OF 315 PM...WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY PUSHED INTO THE COASTAL
PLAINS TODAY AS A WEAK SHORT WAVE SKIRTED BY TO THE N. THE PRES
GRAD INCREASED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS IN RESPONSE AND SW WINDS
INCREASED TO AROUND 10 TO 15 KT ALONG S WATERS...LESS N. THERE
STILL REMAINS THE NOTABLE IMPACT OF SE SWELL REACHING THE REGION.
THIS WILL BEGIN TO DISSIPATE AS THE STORM SOURCE HAS MOVED OUT OF
THE AREA AND DIMINISHED...HOWEVER SEAS STILL RUNNING AROUND 6 FT
OVER THE CENTRAL LEG. THE FRONT WILL WEAKEN AND PUSH BACK W AS A
TROF TNT...AND WINDS WILL LIKELY DROP A FEW KNOTS IN RESPONSE.
WITH ALL THIS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FEEL THAT THE SEAS WILL CONTINUE
TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT...DROPPING BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA LATE
THIS EVENING FOR ALL WATERS.

LATE SAT A WEAK SHT WAVE WILL SLIDE TO OUR N...AND THEN ANOTHER
SUN NT. THESE FEATURES WILL PICK WIND SPEEDS UP A FEW KNOTS. FOR
SAT WITH SEAS STILL TRYING TO COME DOWN WITH GRADUALLY WEAKENING
SWELL...THE ADDED SW WINDS COULD PUSH THE CENTRAL LEG TO AROUND 5
FT...POSSIBLY BRIEFLY TO 6 FT. FORTUNATELY BY SUN THE SWELL
COMPONENT WILL HAVE DROPPED ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD TAKE 20-25KT
WINDS TO PUSH SEAS BCK TO SCA. FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK A BROAD
S/SW FLOW IS ANTICIPATED WITH RELATIVELY TRANQUIL WEATHER
CONDITIONS AS A RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HAZARDOUS FOR SAT DUE TO THE
ONSHORE SW FLOW (S OF HATTERAS) AND CONTINUED SWELL. WE ARE NOW
SEVERAL DAYS PAST THE NEW MOON, ASTRONOMICAL TIDES ARE
LOWERING...AND SO WILL THE SWELL LATER THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK.
THIS WILL HOPEFULLY LEAD TO A DROP IN RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS AS
WELL.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR AMZ152-
     154-156.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JBM
NEAR TERM...JBM
SHORT TERM...JBM
LONG TERM...JBM
AVIATION...SJ
MARINE...SJ

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 24, 6:22 AM EST, 9 hours 38 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
722 AM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>094-251130-
MARTIN-PITT-WASHINGTON-TYRRELL-MAINLAND DARE-GREENE-BEAUFORT-
MAINLAND HYDE-DUPLIN-LENOIR-JONES-CRAVEN-PAMLICO-
722 AM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY. THE THREAT FOR
THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE IS LOW...HOWEVER ANY THUNDERSTORM HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND SMALL
HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NCZ095-098-103-104-251130-
CARTERET-ONSLOW-OUTER BANKS DARE-OUTER BANKS HYDE-
722 AM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG ALL AREA BEACHES TODAY.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY. THE THREAT FOR
THE STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE IS LOW...HOWEVER ANY THUNDERSTORM HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND SMALL
HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 24, 12:52 PM EST, 3 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
152 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0149 PM     HAIL             CAMP LEJEUNE            34.70N 77.37W
07/24/2009  E0.75 INCH       ONSLOW             NC   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM MAIN GATE

&&

JSCHULZ

Local storm report, Jul 24, 12:54 PM EST, 3 hours 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
154 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0149 PM     HAIL             CAMP LEJEUNE            34.70N 77.37W
07/24/2009  E1.00 INCH       ONSLOW             NC   PUBLIC

            TREE LIMBS DOWN FROM WIND DAMAGE IN ADDITION TO HAIL.

&&

JSCHULZ

Local storm report, Jul 24, 1:47 PM EST, 2 hours 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
247 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0223 PM     HAIL             5 E AURORA              35.30N 76.70W
07/24/2009  E0.75 INCH       BEAUFORT           NC   PUBLIC

            PENNY SIZE HAIL REPORTED NEAR SOUTH CREEK

&&

WILLIS

Local storm report, Jul 24, 2:08 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
308 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0301 PM     HAIL             PANTEGO                 35.59N 76.66W
07/24/2009  E2.75 INCH       BEAUFORT           NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            GOLFBALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL.

&&

CQD

Local storm report, Jul 24, 2:58 PM EST, 1 hour 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
358 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0256 PM     HAIL             3 E PUNGO               35.64N 76.58W
07/24/2009  E2.75 INCH       HYDE               NC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND TREE LIMBS DOWN ON HIGHWAY 45.

&&

WILLIS

Local storm report, Jul 24, 3:38 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
438 PM EDT FRI JUL 24 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0433 PM     HAIL             CHINQUAPIN              34.82N 77.80W
07/24/2009  E0.75 INCH       DUPLIN             NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

&&

CQD

Event by event

1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.

Rip Current, Eastern Dare

When: July 24, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Dare forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A forty three year old male drowned after rip current swept him out to sea off Hatteras Village.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Rip Current, Eastern Dare	2009-07-24	43	Male	In Water	Direct

What these are

Rip Current: A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Carolina in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, July 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 175425.