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The moon over Blackwell Point. (Ben Casey photo)

2:31p I have a dream. Martin Luther King’s famous speech, was a rewrite of a speech he had made earlier. On Martin Luther King Day, John Rahm writes in.

9:12a Every year in December, a tree goes up in Lou Mac Park. It is a tradition called “The Tree Of Names and Lights.”

Here’s the story – and the names honored and remembered.

5:03p Almost 2 inches of rain have fallen… the storm total may reach 3 inches. Today’s high wind (so far) 33mph at 3:26p. That could be surpassed later tonight… the forecast for the Neuse 25-30 knots, with gusts to 40.

Water levels peaked earlier this afternoon at about 2 ft above normal…. they are now trending down as winds become more southerly:

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

9:21a Be brave TownDock reader – Flash Gordon is at the Old Theater today for a Sunday matinee. Four seat-grabbing episodes.

Impress your date with your unbounding largess: Tickets six bucks, includes popcorn. Doors open 2:30p, showtime 3p.

Today may not be the ideal day to pursue some offshore fishing:

A bit breezy out there:

As you can see, it’s Atlantic coastal locations (and offshore) that will get the worst if it. Life on the Neuse will be relatively calmer.

High waters are causing slight flooding on Hodges at this writing. Later this afternoon winds are forecast to turn from northeast (as they are now) to southwest. Those southwest winds will pull water levels back down. The rain forecast is for up to 3 inches.

11:18a Award winning bluegrass band “Circus No. 9” is in town today, with two performances.

There is a free “informance” at Holts Community Chapel, 2p this afternoon. Then tonight Pamlico Music Society presents Circus No. 9, 7:30p at the Old Theater. Some tickets still available, at this link.

Here’s the band:

Today Meraki Mediterranean Kafe food truck is at New Village Brewery, 3 – 8p.

9:20a The local forecast has this warning: COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST MONDAY …WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST MONDAY…

Any high waters in and near Oriental will not happen Sunday night during that advisory – it’s a wind direction thing.

Sunday is forecast to see 20-25 knot northeast winds on the Neuse and Pamlico Sound. Northeast winds do push water levels higher locally. But Sunday evening has 25-25 knot south winds forecast. Those south winds will bring water levels down locally. This is followed by a Monday forecast for west winds 15 To 20 knots, gusts to 30. That will push water levels even farther down.

Sunday will bring rain – up to 2 inches. Winds here are not expected to be above 30… but at the coast there are forecasts up to 40s, 50s and even 60 mph.

1:01p Omicron is making its way through Pamlico County. In the last 7 days, there have been 98 COVID cases reported. The real number is likely higher, as it does not include those that may self test (over the counter tests are now common & inexpensive) and then not report a positive result.

Here’s the latest on COVID in Pamlico County and across the state.

12:07p It’s cold. While some do use their boats in the colder months, there is less boating going on now.

It’s a time when many sailors make plans. What’s your plan? That’s the question Captain John Rahm asks in this month’s Captain’s Blog.

8:12a There is dredging in the harbor this week. A barge with a crane is digging out spoils on the Point Pride Seafood side of the harbor. When the hold is full it is moved over the Garland Fulcher side, where the spoils are transferred to waiting dump trucks.

Drone Orville takes a look:

1:10p Last night’s predicted low, 29. The overnight low measured at the Oriental Weather Station, 25.

Tonight’s forecast low is 21. Prepare accordingly.

1:20p It’s going to get cold Tuesday night. Here are expected lows across eastern North Carolina.

But if you think we’re cold – here are wind chill numbers around the country:

8:02a At midnight, it was 65 degrees. It’s been plunging since then… 48 now – and mid 40s this afternoon.

…tonight may dip below 30. Tuesday night is the cold one – forecast low 21 degrees.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

7:30a Overnight temps dipped to 27 degrees. The sun will only warm us up to low 40s today, but Sunday brings a warm break – high near 65.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast

2:20p Hodges Street needs significant repair, and the Net House will be harder to restore than initially thought. These were among the subjects at the January Oriental Town Board meeting.

11:38a The winter months are a slower time for events in Oriental… but February is bringing some entries for your calendar.

Saturday February 5 the Chinese Dragon will dance on Hodges at 2:30p – celebrating the Chinese New Year (it is the year of the tiger). That evening, Pamlico Arts hosts the 4th annual Dragon Burn at The Silos.

Coming later in February, the Old Theater plans to have a Mardi Gras parade Saturday February 26.

10:10a The ferry is operating on a reduced schedule. The culprit – COVID. From NCDOT:

​The Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry route will be running an alternate schedule this week due to COVID cases and exposures. Currently, three employees have tested positive for the virus and five are under quarantine due to exposure.
As a result, the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route will be running the following schedule between Jan. 6-10:
From Cherry Branch: 5a, 5:45a, 6:45a, 7:45a, 9a, 10a, 11a, noon, 1:30p, 2:30p, 3:30p, 4:30p, 5:30p, 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p and 10p.
From Minnesott Beach: 5:25a, 6:15a, 7:15a, 8:30a, 9:30a, 10:30a, 11:30a, 12:30p, 2p, 3p, 4p, 5p, 6p, 7p, 8p, 9p and 11p.

11:30a Rick’s BBQ has new hours for the new year: now open Wednesday – Saturday 11a-7:30p (Wednesday is the new addition). Eat in or take out, 252-249-6400.

2:20p Up until a couple weeks before New Year’s Eve, a return to the traditional Dragon Run was planned. But the Omicron COVID changed those plans. Instead, the Big Dragon toured town on a trailer, while the Chinese Dragon danced on Hodges. Here are photos from the night.

1:57p Today high temp was 70 – at 8:37a this morning. Since then temperatures are diving… it is now 45… a 25 degree drop. From the Oriental Weather Station:

Tonight is forecast to dip below freezing.

12:44p A note from Dragon Master Jim Edwards:

Jim adds an apology for folks at Dolphin Point. The Dragon did head out there, but made a wrong turn and ran through Whittaker Point instead.

Here’s the big Dragon on Hodges New Year’s Eve:

10:39a The weather has impacted the Minnesott Beach/Cherry Branch ferry schedule.

Cherry Branch operation has suspended runs due to winds/tides. Last scheduled departure was 10:30a from Minnesott Beach.

9:39a 2022. It’s easy to write.

Weather has changed on a dime this morning, and it will do it again this afternoon. Weather radar shows a wall of rain heading east and away from us. It delivered a very quick half inch of rain earlier… between 8 and 9a.

It is now sunny and 67. Tonight it will be clear… and temps sneaking just below freezing. While we have a cold week ahead… mid 60s temps are expected to return late this weekend.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Pamlico Sound Marine Forecast