After cruising along offshore of the Outer Banks, an area of disturbed weather causing onshore winds, rough surf and rip currents became Tropical Storm Odette late Friday afternoon.
The system is forecast to parallel the coast and keep the surf churned up, with deadly rip currents expected to be the only threat along the entire Eastern Seaboard for the final weekend of summer.
No Swimming flags were posted for some beaches on Friday, with a high risk of rip currents and dangerous shore break all along the Outer Banks.
On Saturday, a high risk of rip currents is forecast for the beaches from the state line to Cape Hatteras, including Carova Beach, Swan Beach, Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Coquina Beach and Bodie Island, Pea Island, Roadanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Buxton.
The south-facing beaches of Frisco, Hatteras and Ocracoke will have a moderate risk, and only experienced surf swimmers should enter the ocean.
The onshore flow, and increased tropical moisture from both Odette and the remnants of Nicholas to the south have lead to a mixture of clouds and sun throughout Friday along with periods of rainfall across eastern North Carolina. Rain chances will decrease over the weekend.
National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, Friday 5 p.m.: