WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Tropical storm Dennis swept across North Carolina's Outer Banks today with gusty winds and heavy rains, knocking out power in some sections and flooding roads, but causing no serious damage.
Forecasters said it was Dennis' last likely bout with the mainland, but the storm may gain minimal hurricane strength and could menace shipping now that it is back over the Atlantic.
'There's a remote possibility, I guess, that it might try to turn more to the north and do something with the northeast U.S. coast,' said Miami hurricane forecaster Neil Frank, 'but that's extremely remote. Our best guess is that it will continue out to sea and become a concern only to shipping interests. 'There's no land in front of it,' Frank said, but added, 'it could strengthen and become a small hurricane, a minimal hurricane.'
At noon EDT the storm was centered near latitude 35.7 north, longitude 74.7 west, or about 50 miles northeast ov Cape Hatteras. It was moving toward the northeast at about 15 to 20 mph.
Dennis, which claimed three lives since in came ashore Sunday in south Florida, crossed the low-lying Outer Banks at low tide, thus the land drained off more quickly and flooding was less than would have occurred had the storm hit at high tide.
Wind gusts reached 58 mph just off Cape Fear, but the storm's sustained 55 mph winds stayed off shore. Some roads were under water and scattered power outages were reported, but there were no reports of injuries.
Patrick Reed, north district ranger at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, said there had been 'no noticeable erosion' around the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, which stands only 70 feet from the Atlantic Ocean.
Reed said because the storm passed through the area at low tide no major erosion was expected.
The part of the storm that affected coastal residents the most was the heavy rains. The National Weather Service reported nearly six inches of rain fell at Jacksonville during the 24-hour period that ended at 2 a.m. today. Cherry Point received 5 inches during that same time frame.
Residents at Topsail Beach also showed little concern about the storm. Instead of evacuating Wednesday, people lined up at the banks to get pennies for card games they planned to play while sitting out the storm.
'What storm?' one store owner asked. 'It's just a good chance to get everyone together and party.'
The storm, born Aug. 6, straddled land and water as it moved up the Carolinas' coast Wednesday, chasing boats, military aircraft and vacationers inland and naval ships out to sea.
Cape Lookout reported gusts up to 46 mph Wednesday night and rains that began falling well ahead of the storm caused flooding in some low-lying coastal areas, authorities said.
In North Charleston, S.C., police said an elderly man and woman were killed in a two-car collision early Wednesday on a street inundated by rains from Dennis' leading edge.
The storm also left one man dead in Florida, where several million dollars in damage to private homes and public property was reported.
Along the Carolinas' coast Wednesday, some vacationers checked out of rented beach cottages as storm warnings were posted along the coast, even though their leases ran into the weekend.
'I think it's too much risk with the family involved,' said one Gastonia man who left with his wife and two children. 'I didn't want to take a chance. You can't fight nature.'
Ray Grissom of Henderson, N.C., however, decided to remain in the Long Beach cottage his family was sharing with another family.
'It's the excitement, I reckon, seeing what happens,' he said. 'The storm might blow some nice shells in.'
Debbie Fox, co-owner of a realty company handling cottage rentals in Ocean Isle, said only 10 percent of her firm's 300 rental cottages were vacated by people fleeing the storm.
'Most are staying,' she said. 'It doesn't look like it's going to be a severe storm. We have 50 mph winds just during thunderstorms.'
In South Carolina, rain was heaviest in Charleston where 5.35 inches reportedly fell and winds at the storm's peak reached 39 mph, weather officials said. More than 4 inches of rain fell in the Myrtle Beach area.
Serious flooding was averted in the Charleston area because the brunt of the storm hit at low tide, officials said.
Some downtown residents whose streets were underwater had to park their cars several blocks away on higher ground, but no serious damage was reported.
Military vessels steamed for the open seas in advance of the storm, and Air Force jets were evacuated to avoid damage from the storm.
As a precaution, the Coast Guard warned pilots of commercial ships and pleasure craft that the Intracoastal Waterway might be closed to all but emergency and government traffic, if the storm became worse.
The storm, born Aug. 6, straddled land and water as it moved up the Carolinas' coast Wednesday, chasing boats, military aircraft and vacationers inland and naval ships out to sea.
Cape Lookout reported gusts up to 46 mph Wednesday night and rains that began falling well ahead of the storm caused flooding in some low-lying coastal areas, authorities said.
In North Charleston, S.C., police said an elderly man and woman were killed in a two-car collision early Wednesday on a street inundated by rains from Dennis' leading edge.
The storm also left one man dead in Florida, where several million dollars in damage to private homes and public property was reported.
Along the Carolinas' coast Wednesday, some vacationers checked out of rented beach cottages as storm warnings were posted along the coast, even though their leases ran into the weekend.
'I think it's too much risk with the family involved,' said one Gastonia man who left with his wife and two children. 'I didn't want to take a chance. You can't fight nature.'
Ray Grissom of Henderson, N.C., however, decided to remain in the Long Beach cottage his family was sharing with another family.
'It's the excitement, I reckon, seeing what happens,' he said. 'The storm might blow some nice shells in.'
Debbie Fox, co-owner of a realty company handling cottage rentals in Ocean Isle, said only 10 percent of her firm's 300 rental cottages were vacated by people fleeing the storm.
'Most are staying,' she said. 'It doesn't look like it's going to be a severe storm. We have 50 mph winds just during thunderstorms.'
In South Carolina, rain was heaviest in Charleston where 5.35 inches reportedly fell and winds at the storm's peak reached 39 mph, weather officials said. More than 4 inches of rain fell in the Myrtle Beach area.
Serious flooding was averted in the Charleston area because the brunt of the storm hit at low tide, officials said.
The part of the storm that affected coastal residents the most was the heavy rains. The National Weather Service reported nearly six inches of rain fell at Jacksonville during the 24-hour period that ended at 2 a.m. today. Cherry Point received 5 inches during that same time frame.
Authorities said rain that began falling well ahead of the storm caused flooding in some low-lying coastal areas. A dispatcher with the Carteret County Sheriff's Department said additional flooding was expected when high tide occurred at noon today.
'We don't expect to know the extent of the flooding until after high tide,' dispatcher Sally Haaf said. 'We haven't received any reports of damage, and the roads are open.'
She said no one was evacuated but two shelters were opened for people 'who felt like they wanted to leave' their residences. She said 'very few' people showed up at either shelter.
Residents at Topsail Beach also showed little concern about the storm. Instead of evacuating Wednesday, people lined up at the banks to get pennies for card games they planned to play while sitting out the storm.
'What storm?' one store owner asked. 'It's just a good chance to get everyone together and party.'
The New Hanover County Sheriff's Department had one unconfirmed report of a water spout touching down on Figure Eight Island, a wealthy private community. Authorities said the spout reportedly uprooted vegetation but did not damage buildings.
Flooding closed several roads in coastal counties, including U.S. 258 near the Jones-Onslow county line.
