The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The red flags are out. Lifeguards are warning about rip currents. And as Hurricane Katia spirals offshore, surfers finally have something to be excited about: big waves.
At the Oceanfront on Wednesday, lifeguards restricted swimmers to knee-high water.
"That's not something we do lightly," said Tom Gill, a captain with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service, the company that guards the resort area.
Hurricane Katia, a Category 1 storm as of Wednesday night, is not expected to make landfall.
More good news is, the post-Labor Day beach crowds have dwindled. But lifeguards have also been reduced. Gill advises people who go into the water to do so near the remaining 11 weekday lifeguard stands. Lifeguard service will cease for the year on Sept. 19.
The Coast Guard issued a rip current and heavy surf advisory for coastal North Carolina. Officials in Nags Head and Corolla have restricted swimming.
"It's exciting to be on the beach and see the wave action," Cmdr. James Mitchell, response department head for Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, said in a news release. "But remember that there is a lot of power in those waves, especially with rip currents. Even going into the water waist-deep, you could get knocked off your feet."
Meanwhile, surfers are enjoying the waves, which may get bigger before the weekend.
The surf ends a long summer dry spell, broken briefly by Hurricane Irene.
"We got pounded, but it was fun," Kevin Daisey, who runs a local surf-forecasting website, said after surfing all morning Wednesday.
The one flaw: the wind. A stiff breeze out of the south is making the waves messy, especially in the afternoons.
"There are still some waves to pick off, but it's a little choppy," Daisey said.
He forecast bigger waves for today and Friday - maybe some as large as 12 feet - before a flattening-out starting Saturday.
"There will be a few good days, but with the wind, you just have to get out at the right time."
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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With all of the talent in
With all of the talent in the water all you could find to photograph was Mr. Ionlycangostraight in the pic?
Hook us up. Call Wrightcoast for some photos. Jeez Louise!
Where would you like him to go?
The wave is closed out on both ends. Please tell us where he should have gone?
Barrel dodger. Fortune
Barrel dodger. Fortune favors the brave.
Looks to me like a kick out
Looks to me like a kick out or one nice floater. Doesn't matter though...you can see from his stance and trail he went straight.
Stay high for speed boys!
If you need to ask where he could go, let's stay off of the shoulder for us...K?
Where???
Where are all the reporters??? Irene brought surf that never got over waist to stomach high. Yet the local tv reporters painted surfers off as crazy for going anywhere near the water over that time.
Now the surf is twice as big, yet there is not a single reporter within miles of the oceanfront.
The swell at NOAA's offshore
The swell at NOAA's offshore weather buoys was 25ft. as Irene passed. It was 9ft. in the Chesapeake Bay.
not only are there reporters
not only are there reporters at the oceanfront, the surf from Irene definitely got over waist high. I guess you missed out on Sunday morning, super fun and well over waist high.
Past Perpendicular
Oh yes. Where is "Past Perpendicular" Andy Fox, the WAVY resident buffoon, when we need him?
Busy playing in traffic.
Busy playing in traffic.
He's out taking a swim.
He's out taking a swim.