Tropical Depression 9 Closures at Cape Lookout National Seashore (Advisory 1)

Date: August 31, 2016
Contact: Patrick Kenney, 252-728-2250, ext. 3014

Harkers Island, NC –Tropical Depression #9 is in the Gulf of Mexico and is getting more organized and could soon be a tropical storm. The National Weather Service is forecasting it to cross the peninsula of Florida into the Atlantic and move along the Southeast U.S. Coast.It will be near Cape Lookout by Friday evening as a strong tropical storm. Very heavy rain and tropical storm force winds are some of the main concerns from this storm. Dangerous conditions such as high seas at least 8 to 15 feet can also be expected along the track of the system. High risk of rip currents along all area beaches are forecasted to continue through the weekend.

On Friday, September 2, 2016, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse will be closed for tours and Island Express Ferry Service will cease operations out of Beaufort and Harkers Island. Closures may be extended into Saturday based on the progress of the storm. Depending on storm conditions, Long Point and Great Island Cabin Camps operations may be impacted. Visitors with reservations should be monitoring the weather conditions. If the cabins are closed people with reservations will be notified by email from Recreation.gov.

According to Superintendent Pat Kenney "We are monitoring the track of the storm and decisions will be made to ensure public safety. "The National Park Service staff will be monitoring ongoing developments with Tropical Depression 9 and will post updates as needed on the park website at www.nps.gov/calo and via Facebook and Twitter at twitter.com/CapeLookoutNPS.