Norfolk, Va. – Dangerous hurricane conditions are unfolding across the offshore waters between Cape Fear, North Carolina, and Ocean City, Maryland, where seas are climbing toward 50 feet and winds are exceeding 90 knots. The National Weather Service has issued hurricane warnings through Thursday night, warning all vessels to remain in port.
According to the National Weather Service’s Ocean Prediction Center, the strongest winds will sweep the Mid-Atlantic waters tonight into Thursday as the system pushes north. From Hatteras Canyon to Baltimore Canyon, winds will range from 80 to 95 knots with violent squalls and thunderstorms reducing visibility to near zero. Shipping lanes and fishing grounds along this stretch face life-threatening conditions.
The offshore corridor between Cape Fear and Ocean City is expected to take the brunt of the storm, with seas building to 40–55 feet through Thursday before gradually subsiding Friday. Mariners from commercial carriers to smaller charter boats face extreme risk, with capsizing likely in the open Atlantic.
Conditions should ease into the weekend, but seas will remain rough at 10–15 feet on Friday and above-normal swells will continue through Saturday. Coastal residents from North Carolina to Maryland should also prepare for rip currents and dangerous surf.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect until the storm exits the region late Thursday night. Additional updates will follow as the system continues north.
