Inlet Opening on the Outer Banks, A Threat from Irene
Irene will pass close to if not over the Outer Banks. The storm surge will likely be significant (8+ ft); the waves will certainly be large (12+ ft), and unfortunately, the tide will be relatively high (4 ft at 6PM on 8/27). As a result, overwash many occur in many areas, and breaches could form at Rodanthe or sites of recent inlets: Isabel Inlet (near Hatteras Inlet, opened during Hurricane Isabel in 2003), Buxton Inlet (just north of Cape Hatteras, opened by a Nor'easter in 1962) and New Inlet (Pea Island, opened by a hurricane in 1933). Learn more here about the areas vulnerable to inlet opening. Image above of Isabel Inlet (view looking south) was taken by Stan Riggs.
