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6:10p Invest 98 is now in the Gulf, likely headed our way. But we’re good – an overland route is forecast. A significant storm is unlikely to come of this (at least not before it comes our way). More in the TownDock Hurricane Center.

Results and photos from the Croaker Regatta coming Monday.

5:05p The updated Pamlico County zip code cases map (updated with 25 cases):

(click map for larger view)

6:53a Tropical Depression Five is heading away from us, but there still is a potential visitor out there. From The National Hurricane Center:

This is the movement the above text refers to:

On the positive side, this potential storm would be unlikely to become a powerful system on the path above before reaching our area.

6:30a There is an outdoor church service – Oriental United Methodist Church meets at 8:30a this morning by the Community Labyrinth (across from Lou Mac Park). There is also an online service at 10:30a – link will be provided at that time.

2:43p A holiday weekend needs some brews. Locally brewed brews are waiting.

11:44a Tropical Depression Five has formed on the Atlantic. It is just a few hundred miles off the coast… but Five is thankfully headed northeast and away from our shores.

• Tropical Depression Five Tracking Chart
• Tropical Depression Five Forecaster’s Discussion & Computer Models
• Tropical Depression Five Public Advisory

Five is forecast to strengthen enough to earn a name… and the next storm name on tap is “Edouard”. After that, names coming up this season include Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias and Josephine.

9:08a Sunny and near 90, with the ever present chance of rain. That’s the forecast for today through Monday. Tuesday it cools down a bit, with mid 80s highs forecast for Tuesday through the rest of the week.

On the Neuse, west winds 5-10 today, becoming east 5-10 knots Sunday.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Newport Morehead City NC Weather Radar
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online

6:50a There is a disturbance on the Atlantic about 400 miles southwest of Bermuda. It’s a location for storm development that would usually make us nervous. But alas, conditions are such that if Invest 97 forms into a storm it will head in a northeast direction… nowhere near our shores.

• TownDock Hurricane Center

1:00p What time are the fireworks? County Commissioner Candy Bohmert just called TownDock and says the first light (and first boom) will be at 9:15p tonight.

Be smart. Be safe. Keep your social distance. And enjoy an amazing ($10,000) fireworks show over Oriental.

FYI, sunset tonight is at 8:23p. Moonrise is at 7:14p. The fireworks show beings at 9:15p.

To assist in your explosive anticipation, here’s a drone’s eye view of the 2019 Croaker Festival fireworks:

10:34a The Croaker Regatta is on for Saturday. It’s small boat sailing on the Neuse – you’ll be able to see the boats from Lou Mac Park around noon. Bow To Stern is running the event – more info on bowtosternboating.com.

6:32a Naming the un-named Dragon. The voting is competitive. This morning “Pearl” has pulled into the lead, ahead of “Hank”. Check the results – and vote – at this link.

FYI, the voting software only lets you vote once (per device).

It may have been fortunate the fireworks crew was available on the 3rd and not the 4th. A perfect dry forecast for tonight’s fireworks over Oriental. Sunny and low 90s today, clear and 75 tonight. Saturday July 4 adds a 40% chance of rain… rain possible in the afternoon and evening. Saturday has easy 5-10 knot winds – ideal for the Croaker Regatta. While the Croaker Festival is cancelled this year, the socially distant (you’re in a boat) Croaker Regatta is happening.

• Oriental NC Forecast
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Newport Morehead City NC Weather Radar
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online
• Oriental Weather Station
• TownDock Hurricane Center

4:15p How about a different story? From the TownDock archives: Four years ago a man and his son arrived from the Falkland Islands. They had bought a boat in Oriental online – based on photos and description alone – from their home in the southern hemisphere.

They made friends and a good impression during their visit – then they left. On a 9,600 mile journey.

3:35p And another.

2:15p. What happens we cough, sneeze, talk, and even sing? It relates to COVID-19 transmission. Dr Mac Ernest explores this subject – read on.

On a lighter note, there’s a lotta Dragon voting going on. Hank is in the lead, but Pearl is close behind. The Dragon voting booth is here.

12:55p COVID cases 23 & 24. From Pamlico County Emergency Management:

The updated Pamlico County zip code cases map (updated with 22 cases – zip code data for cases 23 & 24 will not be available until tomorrow):

(click map for larger view)

Across, North Carolina, there were 1,800 new cases yesterday. Today, already 1,600.

4:50p Semi normalcy. There is a bit of that this weekend. The Croaker Regatta will indeed happen – Saturday July 4. Sailing on small boats provides inherent social distancing. More info here.

1:32p. Names came in last week from readers – they were naming an unnamed dragon. Now the list has been pared down to 5 possibilities. Which will it be? Cast your vote at this link.

11:24a COVID-19 case #22 has been reported. From Emergency Management director Chris Murray:

Fifteen of the 22 cases have recovered. Six are still under active investigation and one has died.

TownDock.net will update the zip code map when the data is available from the state.

9:14a There are many folks that are dismayed about the Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival being cancelled. Festival board member Doug Sligh writes in to explain the decision he made.

You can pay your water bill now. From Town Hall:

8:26a. Welcome to July. All quiet on the Atlantic (re tropical storms). The forecast for Friday night (fireworks from the bridge) is clear and dry. July 4th has a sunny and 90 degree day expected.

• TownDock Hurricane Center
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Newport Morehead City NC Weather Radar
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online

Town Hall is closed for a while today – from Town Manager Diane Miller:

3:43p Unfortunate news to share – the coronavirus has cancelled another 2020 event. The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival had an amazing lineup set for Oct 2-4, but the event was cancelled today.

The Revelers from Louisiana were to be the 2020 headlining act. Maybe next year.

Meanwhile, here’s some Revelers to try and make us all feel a bit less sad:

12:15p Pamlico County Emergency Services is reporting the first death in the county from COVID-19. From Chris Murray at Pamlico County Emergency Services:

Read the full press release here.

The updated Pamlico County zip code cases map:

(click map for larger view)

The two new cases announced yesterday were as follows: one in 28529, one in 28515.

7:44a Might rain today. Might not. There’s a 50/50 chance either way. Temps will be near 90, though it may feel warmer. That’s that heat index kicking in.

Today is New Village Brewery’s third anniversary. While they’re not open today, they’ll be serving brews later this week, underneath their new roof. The Brewery recently underwent repairs to their 110-year old building.

3:58p Guest columnist and Oriental resident Dr. Mac Ernest shares updated information about the coronavirus. What we know, what we’ve discovered, and when to get help. Read the story here.

1:11p Numbers 20 & 21. From Chris Murray at Pamlico County Emergency Medical Services:

TownDock.net will post an updated zip code map when the data is available from the state, most likely mid-day tomorrow.

Craven County has 365 cases and 6 deaths, and Carteret County has 84 cases with 3 deaths. No deaths reported in Pamlico County so far.

Statewide, there’s over 63,000 cases and 1,325 deaths. 843 are currently hospitalized with the virus.

12:54p Town Hall announces two closings. From Town Manager Diane Miller:

11:38 The final submissions for the nameless dragon are in.

Here is the story that asked for those names – A Dragon is in need of a name.

Submissions are closed while the Provision Company crew reviews the names. A poll to choose the new dragon name will be online on TownDock.net later this week.

7:28a The forecast is stuck on repeat this week. It’s partly sunny with a chance of rain and highs near 90 through Thursday. Come Friday and Saturday, it’ll be mostly sunny.

This coming weekend would have been the annual Croaker Festival. COVID-19 cancelled that. But there’s still something to look forward to: Friday, there’s fireworks from the Oriental bridge and Saturday is the Croakerfest Regatta.

12:05p Here is the updated coronavirus cases by zip code map for Pamlico County. There are now 8 cases in zip code 28529, indicating Saturday’s new case is in 28529. Thursday saw two new cases announced – both of which were also in 28529:

(click map for larger view)

9:47a Some quickly planned music – Salty Paws and friend playing on the Village Gallery Porch today; Sue on guitar, Bentley on banjo, plus Jim. Village Gallery is just a few steps from the harbor.

7:32a. Sunny and 90 today, with a small chance of rain. That’s pretty much the forecast for the next week.. On the Neuse easy 5-10 knot west winds.

7:20a Today’s cover photo shows Cahoon Construction coming in for a small job on the harbor.

A couple years ago they had a much more interesting (and difficult) job. A sailboat ended up ON the Oriental Harbor Marina docks during Hurricane Florence. After the hurricane departed, the boat remained balanced on the dock.

Here’s a video of that boat, Rabid Rabbit, getting lifted back into the water. It took two barges and two cranes.

A news story tells more – Two Cranes And A Rabid Rabbit.

9:00p Number 19. From Chris Murray, Pamlico County Emergency Management: TownDock expects to be able to update the Pamlico County zip code cases map mid-day Sunday, once state data is available.

12:50p More Dragon names have been coming in. Here’s the story that explains why – A Dragon is in need of a name.

Add your name – send your suggestions to iwpc@dockline.net

FYI – dragon names can be submitted until midnight Sunday. The Provision Company crew will be looking at all the submissions early next week.

9:51a. Today’s quote is from a century ago. It’s true in any era, but it really fits today.

9:40a Spotted at a local hardware chandlerly:

8:51a Complaining about the weather won’t be apropo for at least a week. Sunny & 90 today… the same through mid week except a small chance of rain every day starting Sunday.

There are no active storms or disturbances in the Atlantic.

• TownDock Hurricane Center
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Newport Morehead City NC Weather Radar
• TownDock streams NOAA Weather Radio Online

8:46p This press release came from Pamlico County Sheriff Chris Davis minutes ago:

4:15p Give a locally brewed beer a home. It’s waiting for you at the window.

Live music has been in short supply lately. Brant Island Strings works to rectify that tonight, starting at 7p at The Red Rooster.

1:15p TownDock caught up with Jeff Styron at the Garland Fulcher docks. The subject – shrimp:

7:02a No chance of rain today – but there is a chance of heat. Sunny and near 90, with the same forecast with us through the weekend.

On the Neuse, a lazy 5-10 knots today. That forecast too will stay the same for the weekend.

Next weekend there will be no Croaker Festival in Oriental (cancelled due to COVID concerns) – but there will be fireworks. The same pro fireworks crew that usually does the Croaker Festival, East Coast Pyrotechnics, was available Friday night July 3. They’ve been hired. Color and booms will be in the sky.

3:26p Another coronavirus case in Pamlico County. From Chris Murray, Pamlico County Emergency Management:

Here is the updated cases by zip code map for Pamlico County. It appears both of today’s new cases are in zip code 28529:

(click map for larger view)

1:31p If you enter Nautical Wheelers in Oriental there’s a good chance you’ll soon be greeted by a short fellow with four legs. That would be Louis… who has earned the title Mister June, Pet Of The Month.

12:34p The Oriental water level gauge is almost back. The new gauge was installed yesterday – it is a very different unit than before (the old gauge was destroyed in Hurricane Florence). The previous unit was attached to the Lou Mac Park Pier, and was under the water. The new gauge is a different technology – it is again attached to the pier – but instead mounted on a pole in the air. It sends a radar pulse out and measures the water level via the timing of that pulse’s return.

Here’s what it looks like:

TownDock spoke with David Herlong today (Herlong is with the Flood Warning Program at the NC Department of Safety). David says the unit is now sending data, but a different crew will visit next week to calibrate the unit. It should be back online reporting water levels by the end of next week. This data is provided on TownDock.net.

David also explained that the radar unit’s data will be averaged so that even during periods of significant waves we still should see accurate level data.

11:37a Pamlico County Emergency Management announced a 17th case of coronavirus yesterday. The updated zip code data is now available, and it indicates the latest case was in zip code 28529. The map is at this link.

8:00a The fireworks are still on for Friday July 3, to be launched from the bridge. However, the associated Spirit Of Independence event on Saturday July 4 has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. This brief press release explains:

7:47a Face masks now required in North Carolina? Not in all situations, but an executive order from Governor Cooper yesterday did include restaurant and retail employees as required to wear masks for at least the next three weeks. Here’s the story.

Yesterday Pamlico County had it’s 17th confirmed case of the coronavirus. That’s a rate of 13.4 cases per 10,000 population, which remains well below the rate in most North Carolina counties.

TownDock will update it’s Pamlico County zip code map with the 17th case ones the data is available today.

5:50p Case number 17 in Pamlico. Pamlico County Health Department has received notification of a positive COVID-19 test from a patient that was tested on June 21st, 2020 and who has remained isolated and quarantined since the test date.

There are now 3 active cases in Pamlico County, 14 recovered. The state data does not yet show this 17th case. TownDock will update the Pamlico County zip code map Thursday once that state data is available.

2:52p More Dragon names are pouring in:

10:12a Names have been coming in for the Dragon. The Provision company shares these names from TownDock readers:

Add your name – send your suggestions to iwpc@dockline.net

A Dragon is in need of a name – story here.

8:20a Dolly was downgraded to a Tropical Depression early this morning. The storm is heading north into cold waters, and is expected to dissipate Thursday.

You may of heard about Saharan dust plume over Puerto Rico yesterday. This morning it covers the Caribbean. The dust will mostly stay south of us (moving into the gulf) but it does come with a benefit. The dusty air is dry. Hurricanes and tropical systems need humid air. It’s likely there will be no storms forming while that dust is around.

Here’s the dusty view from space:

If some of that dust does make its way north, there could be another plus. Particularly beautiful sunrises and sunsets, as a result of the dust particles.

Locally, the forecast sounds like summer. Mixed sun & clouds, high near 90. Mid 80s Thursday, then back to 90 degree days through the weekend.

On the Neuse, southwest 10-15 knots. Ideal conditions for tonight’s Wednesday Night sail.