27 | August | 2009 |

Retailers and merchants on the Outer Banks are hustling to prepare for the plastic-bag ban that will go into effect on Sept 1. “We’ve been trying to get ready, but it’s going to be really tight,” said Wes Gutekunst, Kitty Hawk Kites marketing director. “As much as we support that it’s going to happen, it did happen quickly.”

The legislation banning plastic bags on the Outer Banks was signed into law in June. Retailers bigger than 5,000 square feet and a stores with more than five or more outlets in the state in North Carolina will have to comply with this law. Customers will be offered incentives for using their own bags.

Tropical Storm Danny is moving westward towards the Outer Banks, but the current forecasts have it turning north and heading up the East Coast prior to making landfall.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): TROPICAL STORM DANNY IS FORECAST TO BECOME A MINIMAL HURRICANE AS IT PASSES EAST OF THE OUTER BANKS FRIDAY NIGHT. GUSTY WINDS…LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND ROUGH SURF WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY AS DANNY MOVES BY OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS. AT THIS TIME THE FORECAST TRACK IS FAR ENOUGH OFFSHORE TO KEEP THE STRONGEST WINDS AND HEAVIEST RAIN EAST OF THE REGION…HOWEVER A SLIGHT SHIFT TO THE WEST COULD GREATLY INCREASE THE IMPACTS.

The Outer Banks seems secure for now, possibly some wind and rain, but no major impact; however, as the NOAA report indicates a small shift in course could change the impact significantly. Danny needs continued monitoring.

Currently, the OBX surf is predicted to increase over the next few days.

Tropical Storm Danny Forecast
TS Danny Forecast - 8.27.09