Hurricane Earl: A perfect storm for surfers?
NGC Communications is huge supporter of surfing and a big sponsor of the local district of the Eastern Surfing Association.
I have been surfing nearly 25 years and live for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which is underway right now as Earl, Fionna, and two unnamed disturbances behind them bounce off the coast of Africa and make the trek across the sea. This is the time to be ready for anything and to be prepared mentally and physically for the best surf the East Coast annually receives. Because, lets be honest, the surf most of the year isn’t that great on the East Coast so we have to take what we can get when we get it.
Earl shows promise for surfers up and down the coast. NWS and NOAA are reporting 12-20 foot seas starting Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night. Friends in Florida already reporting decent swell as it cruises and things in Charleston are expected to pick up today with the incoming tide this afternoon.
Check out one of the coolest hurricane photos I have ever seen – shot from the space station yesterday. Way awesome!
Hurricane Earl is photographed by astronaut Douglas Wheelock aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday, Aug. 31. American astronaut Douglas Wheelock of NASA has been photographing hurricanes from the International Space Station and posting them on Twitter. (Douglas H. Wheelcock / NASA)
The swell window for Earl is short, but looks like the best action will be (surprise surprise) the Outer Banks. Hint the sarcasm here because after living there for almost a decade, I can tell you, that if you can surf hurricane swell in Cape Hatteras you can surf anywhere in the world. Bar none. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is like a bulls-eye for storms. And, as a property owner still in Kill Devil Hills, its a little nerve-racking when a Category 4 beast is staring you down the Gulf Stream pipe.
Anyway, East Coast surfers get ready. This kind of storm is perfect – little to no damage to land since it isn’t expected to have a direct impact, and great surf as it skirts the coast from the Carolinas to Cape Cod. These types of conditions, btw, are for experienced watermen and women only. Novice surfers, stay on land. This is not for you. Tourists heading to the beaches for the holiday weekend, please follow lifeguard warnings, red flags, etc., and stay out the water. The rips are mighty out there and deceiving. A rogue shorebreak could sweept a 3-year-old out with no problems, so watch your kids and be safe out there.
I’ll try to post some pics over Labor Day weekend. Keep checking back. If you have some, email me at noah@thinkngc.com and I’ll share them or leave a comment below on where I can find them. Love to see could surfing shots and storms.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Noah