Hurricane Erin brings dangerous surf conditions to North Topsail Beach

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — The rip current risk remained high Wednesday in North Topsail Beach as Hurricane Erin moved farther north in the Atlantic.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory in the area. Large, breaking waves of six to 12 feet were predicted in the surf zone where ocean rescue officials said the rough surf fuels the dangerous rip currents.

A handful of surfers braved the roaring water to hang onto the waves. Surfer Terrance Alexander of Sneads Ferry, with 20 years of surfing experience, said he had to hang on for dear life after getting caught in a dangerous rip current.

“I was surfing right out here and got caught in a riptide on my surfboard,” he said. “The wave was going out [one] way and a wave was coming [another] way, which is an indication of a riptide. [It] sucked me out on my surfboard.”

Asked how he responded to the rip current, Alexander said, “I just let it take me out because I wanted to go out anyway and catch the third break far out.”

No lifeguards or red flags were seen around North Topsail Beach despite the water warnings.

According to North Topsail Beach Town Manager Alice Derian, officials use an online alert system to notify people who sign up.

“It’s been frequent this week,” she said. “The risk for rip currents have been moderate through yesterday, then went elevated to high risk. That’s where we are now. We expect to remain in that category through Friday and potentially through the weekend.”

Parts of the island were also under a coastal flood warning.

Town officials took steps to keep people safe from flooding in low-lying areas by closing off several beach access points, including #4 and Richard Peter’s Park, both along New River Inlet Road.

According to the NWS, two to three feet of water from storm surge is expected to wash over some roadways in low-lying areas near the shorelines and tidal waterways.

“It’s been frequent this week. The risk for rip currents have been moderate thru yesterday then of course went elevated to high risk. And that’s where we are now . And we expect to remain in that category through Friday and potentially through the weekend.”

Derian said the town is ready for Erin.

“In North Topsail Beach, we have some hot spots that are prone to flooding,” she said. “We know that and we keep close eye monitoring that. We checked last week, we started with staff. It started with pre-checks, which includes making sure our pumps work, our generators, equipment, everything’s fueled.”