St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

A breach which first opened during Hurricane Matthew re-opened during Hurricane Dorian due to elevated water levels and large storm waves that overwashed and flooded a low-lying section of the coast.  The predicted probability of inundation was 60% for this location.

The low lying coastline of Georgia was overwashed in many locations and sand was deposited over the marsh, such as on St. Catherine’s Island. The predicted probability of overwash was 100% for this location. 

A pilot flying a UAS on the beach.

On the southern end of Pawley’s Island, elevated water levels overtopped the low-elevation dunes, transporting sand landward and over the road. The predicted probability of overwash was 100% for this location.

Core Banks within Cape Lookout National Seashore was heavily impacted by waves and surge from Hurricane Dorian. The cuts seen in the island were driven by surge exiting Core Sound as Hurricane Dorian’s winds rapidly changed direction.  The predicted probability of inundation for this location was 50%. These predictions are made for surge and waves coming from the ocean,

An area of previous overwash in Core Banks was completely eroded during Hurricane Dorian. The beach likely experienced erosion and overwash during the approach of Dorian, and then a large storm surge from the sound side after Dorian’s eye passed over. The pattern of wave breaking on the ocean side of the new inlet indicates sand was transported seaward by the surge. The

The Longpoint Cabin Camp in Cape Lookout National Seashore was heavily impacted by Hurricane Dorian’s waves and surge. All of the cabins were damaged and one pavilion is gone altogether. The area is now inaccessible  due to the cut from the harbor to the cabins. These cuts were likely formed when surge flowed over the island from the sound side. The dunes in front of the

Another cut, likely from sound-side flooding on Portsmouth Island. The dunes are intact and a scarp can be seen on the back side of the dunes, indicating that the process of erosion and inundation came from the sound rather than the ocean.

Elevated water levels during Hurricane Dorian eroded the dunes in Hatteras Village and transported sand inland across the road. The probability of dune erosion for this location was 95%, while the probability of  overwash was only 30%. 

Large waves and storm surge during Hurricane Dorian overtopped the low dunes along NC Highway 12 in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, transporting sand inland across the road.  Bulldozers can be seen in the post-storm photograph clearing the road of sand. The probability of dune erosion for this location was only 55%, while the probability of  overwash was only 2%. 

Predicted probabilities of dune erosion (inner band), overwash (middle band), and inundation (outer band) for Hurricane Dorian. Photographs are representative of coastal change observed during past storm events.