Tropical Storm Chris to stay offshore but will deliver deadly surf

By Rob Morris on July 8, 2018

Tropical Storm Chris this morning. (NOAA)

With top sustained winds reaching 60 mph this morning, Tropical Storm Chris will feed off of the warm Gulf Stream for another day or two and strenghen into a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Even though sunshine is in the forecast, more high surf, dangerous shorebreak and rip currents along the Outer Banks will keep the ocean deadly at least until mid-week. A local man died in the heavy surf Saturday.

The Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m., that the the storm was 200 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras and edging south at 1 mph.

Winds from the interaction of a frontal boundary and the tropical storm will hit gale force along the coast and over the Pamilico Sound, the Hurricane Center said. Gale-force winds are 39 to 54 mph while a tropical storm has winds of 39 to 73 mph.

Chris’ tropical-storm-force winds extend 70 miles from the center and chances they will reach the tip of Cape Hatteras were put at 30 to 40 percent percent by the Hurricane Center.

Still, pounding shore break, waves up to 8 feet and numerous rip currents will make the ocean unmanageable even for the best swimmers.

Chris will hang around and strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday before pushing northeast on Wednesday, forecasters said.

Onshore, expect gradual clearing with highs around 81, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday will be clear and warmer before chances of showers and thunderstorms return for the rest of the week.