Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to bring maximum sustained winds of 40 mph to the Outer Banks starting tonight and continuing into tomorrow, according to a Dare Emergency Management advisory issued this morning.
See advisory at https://www.darenc.com/Home/Components/News/News/6264/398
The Outer Banks is currently under a tropical storm warning, issued by the National Hurricane Center, which is forecasting that Arthur will have its strongest impact on the North Carolina coast tomorrow afternoon.
The NHC forecasts the first named storm of the 2020 North Atlantic hurricane season will transition on Tuesday into a non-tropical low-pressure system well off of the mid-Atlantic coastline.
The Dare Emergency Management Department is reporting that dangerous rip currents are already being experienced along the beaches and will continue over the next few days.
Two young girls caught in rip currents were rescued Friday in the ocean at Frisco, on Hatteras Island, by a Dare County man who was driving on the beach in an off-road vehicle when he learned of their distress, according to a statement by David Hallac, superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina.
Jeffrey Del Monte, described only as a Dare County resident, quickly responded, swimming out to each girl and securing her safety with the assistance of an unidentified friend. The statement said that Mr. Del Monte swam out about 100 yards from the shore during his heroic rescue.
Until Arthur and the rip currents subside, no one should be swimming in the ocean.
Tropical Storm Arthur formed east of Florida last night, two weeks ahead of the “official” June 1 start of the hurricane season. It brings the potential for heavy rainfall, strong-force winds, and flooding.
Dare Emergency Management advises residents to take precautionary measures, including securing outdoor furniture, trash cans, and any other loose items outside; moving vehicles to higher ground; charging cell phones and making sure that flashlights have working batteries. See the advisory for more details.
N.C. COVID-19 REPORT
The numbers in the latest statewide 24-hour COVID-19 count improved vastly over the previous 24-hour count, which showed a record-high number of cases.
Since 11 a.m. yesterday, 530 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases, out of 10,358 completed tests, were reported, according to the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services dashboard, for a positive-test rate of 5.1 percent.
Yesterday, the NCDHHS reported a record 853 new cases in a 24-hour period, for a striking 12 percent positive-test rate.
Today’s dashboard reports hospitalizations have increased by 12 to 493, and seven more deaths have occurred, bringing the statewide total number of people who have died because of COVID-19 to 659.
Nationwide, the total number of deaths in the United States now attributable to COVID-19 is nearly 90,000.
DON’T FORGET: THE SOUTHERN SHORES TOWN COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN IMPORTANT WORKSHOP MEETING ON TUESDAY, MAY 19, AT 9 A.M.
Meeting packet: https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Meeting-Packet_2020-05-19.pdf
The Beacon will post a meeting preview tomorrow.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 5/17/20
The Southern Shores Beacon 
Do we know if trash will be collected Monday morning as usual?
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It should be. There has been no notice posted that it won’t be. People who live close to the ocean may be advised not to put trash cans out because of the possibility that the cans will be knocked over. But they can make that decision based on conditions tonight. Thanks for your inquiry.
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