home

On Core Creek, trawler Capt Davis of Sneads Ferry.

1:55p You might call a Cape Dory Typhoon a “little ship”. They were designed by Carl Alberg, and dubbed as “America’s littlest yacht.”

The folks at Bow To Stern in Oriental have a small fleet of 19 ft Cape Dory Typhoons.

Every Monday night they host “Open Sailing” – you get to go sailing for the evening on a Cape Dory Typhoon. 25 bucks. It starts at 5. More info here.

9:44a A couple Old Theater events are coming later this month.

Sunday Oct 20 it’s fiddle music time, with an international twist. Andrew Finn Magill is from western NC, and he’s been making a name for himself. He’s a Fulbright Fellow, a South Arts Emerging Traditional Artist, a North Carolina Arts Council Fellow, and even an All-Ireland Fiddle finalist.

Finn and his fiddle will be joined by Brazilian Cesar Garabini on 7-string guitar and Clarice Cast, a percussionist from Sao Paulo, Brazil. More info here.

Then Saturday Oct 26 it’s the annual Chili Cookoff, held on the Oriental Marina grounds. Mary Taylor writes in:

9:09a Congratulations to first place skippers Henry Frazer (Spinnaker division) and Madison Scott (Cruising division) in this past weekend’s Oriental Cup Regatta.

(click results for larger view)

8:50a The Atlantic is quiet compared to recent weeks, but there is potential trouble out there. Invest 94 is making it’s way west:

The next name on tap for the 2024 season is Nadine.

• Hurricane Center

11:37a Water levels have reduced since yesterday – now 1.6 ft above normal. When will they finally go down down down?

Saturday’s west winds, followed by a few days of southwest winds, will finally see Hodges Street clear & dry.

• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

9:36a Collections continue this morning to assist western NC. Jim Kellenberger writes in:

6:59a The ferry is fixed and back on a normal two boat schedule.

Autumn is with us… it is 49 degrees this morning. High today just into the low 70s.

Today, sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph, gusts to 20.
Tonight, clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
Saturday, sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday night, clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
Sunday, sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday night, clear. Not as cool with lows in the mid 60s.
Columbus Day, sunny. Warme. Highs in the upper 70s.

6:25a Something isn’t working at Cherry Branch:

4:22p High waters will cause “The Gathering,” normally 6p tonight, to be cancelled.

What’s with all the high waters? It has been high for much longer than normal lately. Two things combined have those levels higher.

The key thing is wind direction. Historically, the predominant wind around here is from the southwest.

Not lately. In the last three weeks every day but one has seen winds from the north. North, northeast and east winds will push up water levels in and near Oriental.

Add to that, flood level waters have been flowing down the Neuse River. Basically, local water levels have been getting pushed up from two directions.

The end result, high waters.

Saturday night winds are forecast to become southwest. Southwest winds should stay with us through Monday.

Water levels will go down.

But if those north winds return and hang around for days, back they come.

8:35a The local collections to aid western NC begin today. Jim Kellenberger writes in:

More info about what’s needed here.

5:14p Now 180.

2:00p Hurricane Milton now has 175 mph winds.

• Hurricane Milton Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Milton Forecaster’s Discussion
• Hurricane Milton Public Advisory
• Hurricane Center

5:49a Mechanical issues, the ferry is on a reduced schedule:

1:55p It’s now Hurricane Milton, 80 mph winds, expected to increase to 145 mph.

Milton is bound for or just a bit south of Tampa.

1:52p That Gulf Tropical Depression is now Tropical Storm Milton.

Milton will be a hurricane by Monday morning, and is bound for Florida (not here).

• Tropical Storm Milton Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

There’s more Ol’ Front Porch. This afternoon’s schedule – and the festival map.

11:05a Tropical Depression Fourteen has formed in the Gulf, tracking to the west Florida coast. It is expected to reach hurricane strength.

• Tropical Depression Fourteen Tracking Chart
• Tropical Depression Fourteen Forecaster’s Discussion
• Hurricane Center

9:40a Friday evening, the French swing jazz of Djoukil played. Some danced, most everybody at least moved.

Ben Casey was on duty getting photographs.

In the midst of it all, Laura “Faster Than a Polaroid” Turgeon drew the scene:

Today is the big day for the festival. The schedule is online – here’s the link.

There’s even a printable schedule PDF.

The festival has perfect weather on tap… partly sunny & 80 today.

Hurricane season is technically with us until November 30. Usually, if anything is going to brew, it will be by mid October.

Invest 92 is now in the Gulf, and expected to become a storm system later today or Sunday. It would Florida bound:

The next storm name… Milton.

• Hurricane Center

11:41a You can see the Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival schedule online – here’s the link.

Some folks like a printed schedule – here’s a printable schedule PDF.

10:25a For some Pamlico County water system users – a low pressure & boil water advisory.

Details on the problem here.

6:53a Tropical Depression Thirteen is now Tropical Storm Leslie, 40 mph winds, and expected to reach hurricane strength in a few days.

Leslie’s track is still trending north~ish, but the models are beginning to disagree where her ultimate track will be. Best keep an eye on Leslie.

• Tropical Storm Leslie Tracking Chart
• Tropical Storm Leslie Forecaster’s Discussion
• Hurricane Center

4:02p There is a community disaster supply drive being coordinated by Oriental United Methodist Church, to aid those in western North Carolina. Basic household supplies are being requested, and will be collected at Station 19 from October 8 – 20 (tentative dates).

More info about what’s needed here.

Volunteers are needed to receive the donations at Station 19 – sign up at this link.

1:11p The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival is this Friday & Saturday. It brings an extra couple thousand folks to town.

How do you get around? Is there a map? It’s all answered here.

12:14p High water levels, most noticeable on Hodges Street, just wont… go… away.

The view this afternoon:

Water levels now 2 1/4 ft above normal, and weather conditions are such that they won’t be returning to “normal” for a while. North and northeast winds push up water levels:

• Neuse River Marine Forecast
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Oriental NC Forecast

11:45a Tropical Depression Thirteen has formed, from Invest 91. While not identical, it is initially forecast to be on a similar northerly track as Kirk.

If this track continues, it would keep Thirteen away from our shores. This is expected to strengthen to a hurricane. The next names on tap are Leslie and Milton.

• Tropical Depression Thirteen Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

We now have Tropical Storm Kirk, formed near the Cape Verde Islands off Africa.

Kirk is expected to become a powerful hurricane, but is also forecast to trend north and stay mid Atlantic.

Elsewhere in Atlantic storm news, Isaac is kaput, and Joyce about to be done.

A disturbance is down in the same area Helene formed. The Gulf (and inland) is nervous.

• Tropical Storm Kirk Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

Coming this weekend to Ol’ Front Porch… a band that calls their music “swampgrass”.

It’s the Shoaldiggers:

5:35p Tropical Depression Twelve has formed in the distant Atlantic. While this may become a significant hurricane, initial tracks have it trending north and staying away from land.

• Tropical Depression 12 Tracking Chart
• Hurricane Center

When twelve gets stronger (likely Monday), it will get the name Kirk.

2:19p Ol’ Front Porch is now just days away. Among the 2024 performers… a group from France. Djoukil.

There might be just a bit different:

8:28a You might think Hurricane Helene left the most rain in Florida. Nope.

It was western North Carolina. One small town on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Busick, got 29 inches (update – now 30 inches). Mount Mitchell saw 24 inches.

(click pic for the big wet view)

4:55p Now centered over Kentucky, former hurricane Helene has been declared post-tropical. More in the Hurricane Center.

Back here in river city, winds are calmer, but more breeze and a chance of rain are in tonight’s forecast.

2:22p An impressive breeze just trucked through town. High wind so far today, 31mph at 2:16p.

2:14p Here’s what’s up. Tonight may be hypothetical/hopeful (weather), but no cancellations have dialed in yet.

Oriental’s History Museum takes a look at who was here before folks named Midyette & Delamar (well, there were the Smiths of Smith Creek, but that’s another story). A new museum exhibit debuts today, Native Americans of Pamlico County. The museum is open Friday 11-3 and Saturday 1-4.

Hoff n Finch at the brewery tonight, teamed w the La Cocina Del Coqui food truck. At the Red Rooster, Terra Tones play the bantam stage.

Saturday morning the Farmer’s Market near the harbor – the farmers will be happy to see the lower water levels. Jane Wright passed away in June. Friends will gather for a Celebration of Jane’s life Saturday 2p at the Tiki Bar.

Also Saturday afternoon get vino education at two wine tastings, 2 & 3p, Nautical Wheelers. Saturday night support Heartworks mission at Harborfest @ River Dunes. At New Village Brewery, Jasmine Tasty Thai food truck and Terra Tones play 6-8p.

Sunday afternoon Fay Bond celebrates another turn of the planet… she will be 101. Lou Mac park, 4-7p.

You’ll find it all in What’s Happening.

12:01p There’s a tornado watch in effect, plus a Small Craft Advisory… both in effect til 6p tonight.

• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge

After all the breezy action, Saturday’s easy forecast on the Neuse: 5 knots.

11:23a Tropical Storm Joyce has formed, out on the Atlantic. Joyce’s forecast track keeps it thousands of miles away.

To put this into perspective, Storm Joyce will track closer to Buckingham Palace than to Cape Hatteras.

To be fair to Buckingham Palace, we hear the afternoon tea at Hatteras leaves something to be desired.

There are now three active tropical storm systems, not unusual for this time in September. None pose a probable threat to front or back yards in Oriental NC.

• Hurricane Center

Those brisk winds today are influenced by the big wide winds of Helene. High wind so far today in Oriental, 27mph at 11:04a.

• Oriental Weather Station

7:12a It’s just a week away. Long term weather looks a like a fine weekend will likely be with us. It’s the Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival, Oct 4 & 5.

27 bands & performers. Among them, Nefesh Mountain:

6:51a Helene is now “just” a tropical storm, 70 mph winds and raining on Georgia. Isaac is a hurricane, on an eastern Atlantic route that will take the lad north of Ireland. Invest 98 just hasn’t formed a storm yet, but even if it does (and becomes Joyce), it is forecast to do a billiard ball move and stay far away.

Back here in river city, a cloudy thunderstormy day ahead. Highs about 80, a 90% chance of getting wet.

On the Neuse, southeast winds 10-15, gusts to 30. Those brisk southerly winds will finally move water levels down.

• Hurricane Center
• Oriental NC Forecast
• Oriental Weather Station
• Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge
• Weather Radar
• Neuse River Marine Forecast

12:37p He’s traveled across Europe, then trekked to Napa Valley.

Super suave & debonair Doug Sligh leads the wine tastings this Saturday at Nautical Wheelers.

11:03a. Now 80 mph winds, Helene is a hurricane.

9:07a It’s Wednesday, the day that the Piglet debuts their weekly specials.

Here are the Piggly Wiggly deals for Sept 25 – Oct 1.

8:38a In the Gulf, Tropical Storm (about to be hurricane) Helene’s forecast track inland continues to be west enough that we are unlikely to see impact beyond rain.

New this morning are Invests 98 and 99. Invest 99 is north Atlantic, bound for Portugal. Weeding your yard is a bigger concern.

Invest 98 is in the distant Atlantic, on an initial path that might cause anxiety. While we’re waiting for prettier computer models to be available, here’s what the weather patterns suggest: when Invest 98 gets to about 45 degrees west, she be turning north.

• Hurricane Center

Update: those Invest 98 models are in:

11:21a It’s now Tropical Storm Helene, forecast to become Hurricane Helene Wednesday.

Still bound for the Florida Panhandle, expected to reach Category 3 strength before landfall Thursday evening.

• Tropical Storm Helene Tracking Chart
• Tropical Storm Helene Forecaster’s Discussion
• Tropical Storm Helene Public Advisory
• Hurricane Center

9:37a It’s all cloudy this morning. The forecast says that bright thing in the sky will appear.

Julie Wiegand with OWC writes in:

The lab coat adorned Oriental Einsteins:

9:22a Storm systems. Where are they going? Talk is in the air.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (aka it’s gotta get named Helene soon), has had a consistent forecast track from NOAA/NHC, but there is still some question of its ultimate path. This morning, some meteorologists are calling Nine “disorganized.” One school of thought has Nine weaker than now forecast, trending more west. Another where Nine promptly develops that core, gets stronger, with a path more east. Which is it?

Gotta trust the National Hurricane Center, NOAA/NHC. While their seasonal forecasts may be silly, the NHC individual storm forecast tracks are brilliant.

• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Tracking Chart
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Forecaster’s Discussion
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Public Advisory
• Hurricane Center

What about the disturbance off Africa? Perhaps a future storm Isaac, it will likely gain “Invest” status today or tomorrow, with storm models to follow.

Weather patterns suggest a probable northerly trend that could keep it away.

The upcoming storm names: Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie and… Milton.

Milton.

Milton just doesn’t sound stormy.

11:15a Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is now on the scene. Formerly Invest 97, soon to get the name Helene.

The first official NHC forecast has this one Gulf/Panhandle bound and staying well to our west.

• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Tracking Chart
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Forecaster’s Discussion
• Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine Public Advisory
• Hurricane Center

10:21a Pierce Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church is in Oriental, on Town Rd (about across from the Piglet). They have been raising money to get off their antiquated septic setup, and hook to the County sewer system.

They need $8,000. They are almost there… just $1,000 to go. Maybe you help them reach that goal. It isn’t an online thing, Pierce Chapel accounting is old school.

Dust off your checkbook, find a stamp, and mail your tax-deductible contribution, payable to “Pierce Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church,” to P.O. Box 428, Oriental, NC 28571. (Overage donations, if any, will be added to the church’s General Building Repair Fund for future use.)

Questions? Contact Gregory “Zeke” Green, 252-838-2425.

9:47a Up for an evening sail? It’s Open Sailing, 5p today at Bow To Stern.

Looks like gentle sailing weather, 5-10 knots forecast for the Neuse today & tonight.

• Neuse River Marine Forecast

9:24a There are two likely storm systems to watch. Invest 97, bound for the Gulf, and a disturbance in the distant Atlantic.

Re Invest 97, the Panama City to Cedar Key corridor is currently most likely for landfall. Most models have it keeping way west of us.

Where is the disturbance way out on the Atlantic headed?

From the National Hurricane Center:

No real models yet. Here’s what we do have:

• Hurricane Center.