North Carolina beaches thin out ahead of tropical weather

RODANTHE, N.C. - Crowds thinned Tuesday on the beaches of North Carolina's Outer Banks ahead of a tropical weather system that threatened to bring strong winds and heavy rains that could flood low-lying areas.

Elsewhere, a powerful hurricane threatened to pass "dangerously close" to Hawaii and another tropical depression churned in Gulf of Mexico waters with the potential to bring rain and wind to Florida.

On North Carolina's Hatteras Island, a slow stream of dozens of cars from places including Maryland, New York and Ohio headed north toward a bridge to the mainland - but other vacationers stayed and some surfers dove in for taller waves. Several Outer Banks businesses reported cancellations and slower foot traffic.

Some beaches were all but empty during a morning of gray skies and misty rain. Near Rodanthe, a couple and their 11-year-old son had the shore to themselves for a walk. Joe and Kelley Walker of Markham, Virginia, said their family plans to wait out the rain with movies or card games.

"We're not worried about the storm so much unless they say there's something to worry about," Joe Walker said.

In nearby Frisco, whipped-up waves attracted out-of-town surfers. A break in the rain before more showers were expected also brought families out at midday.

Steven Kavika, a 58-year-old surf instructor, said he relished the opportunity.

"I saw it coming in last week and kind of made a prediction of what day would be best to come down," said Kavika, who drove down with a friend from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to catch the waves.

The weather system off the coast was expected to strengthen and pass near the Outer Banks by late Tuesday, bringing sustained winds as high as 45 mph and heavy rains of up to 5 inches in some areas.

A 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center said the tropical depression could become a named storm later in the day. Forecasters have said it's not expected to surpass tropical-storm strength.

With the storm centered about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, a tropical storm warning was in effect for much of the Outer Banks.

Coastal Carteret County emergency officials issued an advisory on Tuesday saying that wind problems were likely to be "mostly minor," but residents should prepare in case trees topple, limbs snap or lightweight objects are blow around.

At the same time, the National Hurricane Center said another tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico could hit northern Florida as a tropical storm later in the week and possibly head toward the Atlantic coast. That depression was about 340 miles (550 kilometers) west of Key West, Florida.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Lonka said the center of the storm approaching North Carolina should stay offshore, but it will hit the Outer Banks with rain and wind through Wednesday.

"There'll be rain showers coming on shore, rain bands and gusty winds," he said by phone Tuesday.

Lonka said the storm in the Gulf was forecast to move across northern Florida later this week toward the Atlantic, but likely to stay south of North Carolina. Still, he cautioned its path was difficult to predict days in advance.

At Ride The Wind Surf Shop on Ocracoke Island, owner Bob Chestnut said he canceled all of his kayak tours and other rentals for Tuesday because he was concerned about the wind. Foot traffic in the store has been sparse.

"The amount of day-trippers has been pretty minimal because I think people were worried they'd get down here and not be able to get back," he said by phone, referring to people who take a ferry to the island on the southern stretch of the Outer Banks.

Byron Miller, manager of The Ocracoke Harbor Inn, said one person cancelled because of the forecast, and business is a little slower than usual.

Meanwhile, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for the Big Island of Hawaii, saying Hurricane Madeline could pass "dangerously close." The storm should be near or over the Big Island by Wednesday.

Early Tuesday, forecasters said the storm was a powerful Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph). Madeline was centered about 445 miles (715 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii, and moving west at 10 mph (17 kph). Officials urged residents there to restock emergency kits, create evacuation plans and secure outdoor furniture.

Elsewhere, another Category 3 hurricane named Lester - also with top sustained winds of 120 mph (195 kph) - was about 1,355 miles (2,180 kilometers) east of Hilo, Hawaii and moving west over the Pacific at 14 mph (22 kph). No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for Lester.

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Drew reported from Durham, North Carolina.