THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508190096
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks tried to bid good riddance to Felix on Friday as life for residents returned to normal and visitors sought out sunny beaches, reopened in time for the weekend.
Forecasters urged caution, however, as the hurricane began to reintensify and loop in the Atlantic late Friday night. If it completes a circle, Felix could yet again threaten the East Coast.
Earlier Friday, however, surfers were riding the waves, enjoying swells stirred up by Felix, positioned about 400 miles east of Virginia Beach at 5 p.m. That was far enough away for the National Hurricane Center to lift all watches and warnings.
Lifeguards will be back in their stands along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this morning and rental of beach chairs and umbrellas will resume.
On the Outer Banks, officials estimated damage at $57,000, mostly from minor damage to several homes and buildings.
``Overall the effects of Hurricane Felix on the area were minor,'' said Hue Cobb, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport. ``Pounding swells resulted in beach erosion over the northern Outer Banks, the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach and the resort Oceanfront area.''
On the Outer Banks, sustained winds were clocked at 30 mph to 40 mph for about 24 hours with gusts to 50 mph. Offshore at the Diamond Shoals light, sustained winds hit 60 mph.
The primary effect was ocean overwash of N.C. Route 12 on Wednesday and especially Thursday. In addition to beach erosion, there were power outages caused largely by salt spray that shorted out power lines.
At Sewells Point in Norfolk, tidal surges were minimal, with a maximum of 2.2 feet above normal. Minor flooding occurred in low-lying sections of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth during several high-tide cycles. The highest sustained wind recorded in Hampton Roads was 23 mph.
The one thing some people had wanted from the storm, Felix withheld: rain. A mere hundredth of an inch of rain fell in four days at the airport.
By late Friday the hurricane was moving southeast at 6 mph.
``Due to the slow and erratic motion of Felix,'' the Hurricane Center said, ``all interests along the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward to southern New England should closely monitor the progress of this hurricane.''
Felix regained a little strength Friday night, with maximum sustained winds up to 80 mph and higher gusts in squalls. The field of hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or higher grew from 85 to 115 miles from the center.
The Hurricane Center said it appeared Felix was making a clockwise loop, moving, perhaps, to complete the three-quarters of a grand circle it has already fashioned on the map. The Hurricane Center said its various computer models - which earlier Friday had concurred in forecasting a steady move east - were once again in disagreement late Friday. The emerging picture appeared to have Felix in a slow, clockwise loop and possibly stalling yet again for two days.
Four days ago, Felix was heading northwest, then it swung north off Virginia and North Carolina and then began drifting northeast. On Friday, the storm continued a gentle swing: at 2 a.m., it was heading northeast; at 5 a.m., east-northeast; at 11 a.m., east; at 5 p.m., east-southeast. MEMO: UNTAPING THE MESS
Here's what to use on that pesky tape residue.
Nail-polish remover.
WD-40.
Oops! It loosens the tape, making it easier to scrape.
Don't use double-edged razors; try a thick, one-sided safety razor
blade or a professional scraper.
ILLUSTRATION: A satellite photo shows Hurricane Felix hundreds of miles off
the coast at 6:15 p.m. Friday. It's expected to keep moving east.
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE FELIX by CNB