Shore area residents saw the sun for the first time in nearly a week on Thursday, following a five day-long nor’easter spurred by the remnants of Hurricane Ian, which produced clouds for seven days. We captured some scenes from last night’s sunset in the video above and the photos below.
Clear blue skies and temperatures hovering in the mid-70s had locals back in shorts and tee shirts for a day, but while the sun is forecast to last well into next week, temperatures will begin to drop in earnest for the first time since the end of summer.
The National Weather Service called for sunny skies on Friday with a high of 72 degrees and light west winds. On Saturday, morning clouds will give way to another sunny afternoon, but with northwest winds of 15 m.p.h. and a drop in temperature. The high Saturday is forecast to be just 59 degrees, with an overnight low of a chilly 46 degrees. Sunday’s temperature will reach 62 degrees, with the sun continuing to shine. Lows will drop into the high 40s or low 50s Sunday night.
While it may not be ideal beach weather, this weekend will give boaters their first opportunity to hit the water in days. There were no small craft advisories in effect, nor were any expected, the NWS office in Mount Holly said.
Winds this weekend were forecast to run 8-15 knots, with wave heights of 2-3 feet on the ocean Saturday, and just 2 feet on Sunday with light swells from the east. The bay was expected to be calm.
The NWS forecasts a “moderate” rip current risk for the weekend, meaning life-threatening rip currents are “possible,” but not necessarily “likely” in the surf zone. Wave heights will be about 2-3 feet.