Cape Hatteras

For the lighthouse located on Cape Hatteras, see Cape Hatteras Light.
Cape Hatteras

An aerial view of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse prior to its 1999 relocation
Location United States
Coordinates 35°15′16.49″N 75°31′11.82″W / 35.2545806°N 75.5199500°W / 35.2545806; -75.5199500Coordinates: 35°15′16.49″N 75°31′11.82″W / 35.2545806°N 75.5199500°W / 35.2545806; -75.5199500
Cape Hatteras from space, October 1989

Cape Hatteras /ˈhætərəs/ is a cape on the coast of North Carolina, and is protected as the namesake feature of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. [1] It is the point that protrudes the farthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the Atlantic coast of North America.

It is also the nearest landmass to Bermuda, which is about 563 nautical miles (648 mi; 1,043 km) to the east-southeast.

The community of Buxton lies on the inland side of the Cape itself, at the widest part of Hatteras Island. It is the largest community on the island, and is home to the governmental offices and schools for the Island.

Geography

Cape Hatteras is a bend in Hatteras Island, one of the long thin barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks. It is the site where the two great basins of the East Coast meet.[2] The cape's shoals are known as Diamond Shoals. Somewhat analogous to Point Conception in Southern California, this on-the-edge placement at the confluence of the Labrador and Florida currents leads to unusually diverse biological assemblages. Many species' ranges have either a southern or northern terminus at the cape.

Climate

An aerial view of where Hurricane Isabel cut inlets into Hatteras Island

Cape Hatteras has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with mild winters, and warm to hot, humid summers, and is part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9.[3] It is surrounded by large bodies of water, with Pamlico Sound to the west and northwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to all directions from northeast through southwest. The proximity to water moderates conditions throughout the year, producing cooler summers and warmer winters than inland areas of North Carolina.[4] The warmest days in July and early August have an average high temperature of less than 85 °F (29 °C). As a result of its proximity to water, temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C) are rare, with an average of only 2.3 days per summer above 90 °F (32 °C);[5] one to three years out of each decade will not see any 90 °F readings. The coolest month, January, has a daily mean of 45.5 °F (7.5 °C), with lows normally well above freezing (32 F). The average window for freezing temperatures is from December 12 to March 11 (allowing a growing season of 275 days), between which there is an average of 21 nights with lows at or below the freezing mark,[5] though only once every several years does the thermometer stay at or below the freezing mark all day. Extremes in temperature range from 6 °F (−14 °C) on January 21, 1985 up to 97 °F (36 °C) on June 27, 1952.

Snowfall is observed occasionally, and usually light.[4] Precipitation, mostly in the form of rain, is over 58 inches (1,500 mm) per year, making it the wettest coastal location in North Carolina.[4] Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year in which July to September are the wettest months.[4] On average, August is the wettest month, owing to high frequencies of both summer thunderstorms and tropical systems (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions) that affect the area, mostly from August to early October.

Cape Hatteras is virtually the highest-risk area for hurricanes and tropical storms along the entire U.S. Eastern seaboard. Cape Hatteras can experience significant wind and/or water damage from tropical systems moving (usually northward or northeastward) near or over North Carolina's Outer Banks, while other areas (i.e. Wilmington, NC or Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC to the south and Norfolk, VA and Maryland's Eastern Shore to the north) experience much less, minimal or no damage. The Cape Hatteras area is infamous for being frequently struck by hurricanes that move up the East Coast of the United States. The strike of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was particularly devastating for the area. Isabel devastated the entire Outer Banks and also split Hatteras Island between the two small towns of Frisco and Hatteras. NC 12, which provides a direct route from Nags Head to Hatteras Island, was washed out when the hurricane created a new inlet. Students had to use a ferry to get to school. The inlet was filled in with sand by the Army Corps of Engineers which took nearly two months to complete. The road, electrical and water lines were quickly rebuilt when the inlet was filled.

History

The Cape Hatteras Life Guard Station, which later became part of the Durant Motel, and was upended by Hurricane Isabel in 2003

The name Hatteras is the sixth oldest surviving English place-name in the U.S. An inlet north of the cape was named "Hatrask" in 1585 by Sir Richard Grenville, the admiral leading the Roanoke Colony expedition sent by Sir Walter Raleigh. It was later applied to the island and cape as well, and modified to "Hatteras."[7] Hatteras is the name of the Hatteras Indians.[8]

Because mariners utilize ocean currents to speed their journey, many ships venture close to Cape Hatteras when traveling along the eastern seaboard, risking the perils of sailing close to the shoals amid turbulent water and the frequent storms occurring in the area. So many ships have been lost off Cape Hatteras that the area is known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Cape Hatteras is also well known for surfing.[9][10]

The first lighthouse at the cape was built in 1803; it was replaced by the current Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1870, which at 198.48 feet (60.50 m) from the ground to the tip of its lightning rod is the tallest lighthouse in the United States and one of the tallest brick lighthouses in the world. In 1999, as the receding shoreline had come dangerously close to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the 4830-ton lighthouse was lifted and moved inland a distance of 2,900 feet (880 m). Its distance from the seashore is now 1,500 feet (460 m), about the same as when it was originally built.

The E.M. Clark (shipwreck and remains), EMPIRE GEM (shipwreck and remains), and USS Monitor are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11][12]

Awards and Recognition

Cape Hatteras has received the following awards:

Top 10 U.S. Beaches, The Travel Channel [13]

Top 10 U.S. Beaches for 2016, CNN [14]

America’s Top 10 Beaches of 2015, Forbes [15]


Notes

  1. ↑ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
  2. ↑ Official temperature and precipitation records for Cape Hatteras were kept at Hatteras from January 1893 to February 1957, and at Billy Mitchell Airport since March 1957. Snowfall and snow depth records date to 1 January 1908 and 1 January 1948 respectively.[5] For more information, see ThreadEx.</ref> N t Month e Jan e Feb r Mar C Apr / May Jun Jul o Aug h Sep o Oct s Nov f Dec st to the southeast along the northYear est line{{what|date=September 014}} of the [[Atlantic O Record high °F (°C) of [[North America]]. It is also the nearest 75
    (24) o [[Bermuda]], which is about {{convert|563|nm 76
    (24) e east-southeast. The community of [[Buxton, 82
    (28) Buxton]] lies on the inland side of the Cape i 89
    (32) idest part of [[Hatteras Island]]. It is the 91
    (33) ty on the island, and is home to the governmen 97
    (36) schools for the Island. ==Geography== Cape H 96
    (36) nd in [[Hatteras Island]], one of the long thi 94
    (34) and]]s that make up the [[Outer Banks]]. It is 92
    (33) the two great basins of the East Coast meet.< 89
    (32) {{cite news |title= Point Well Taken |last= He 81
    (27) ll |work= The Washington Post |date= June 5, 1 78
    (26) url= http://search.proquest.com/docview/307904917/1390C34FAFE5FA718B/1? 97
    (36) re the Mid-Atlantic Bight, fro Cape Cod to Cape Hattera Mean maximum °F (°C) tic Bight, from Cape Lookout to Cape Canaveral 69.1
    (20.6) s [[shoal]]s are known as [[Diamond Shoals]]. 68.7
    (20.4) to [[Point Conception]] in [[Southern Californ 72.9
    (22.7) ember 2014}} this on-the-edge placement at the 78.1
    (25.6) Labrador and Florida currents leads to unusual 83.5
    (28.6) al assemblages. Many species' ranges have eith 88.9
    (31.6) rthern terminus at the cape. ===Climate===<!- 90.6
    (32.6) te of the United States--> [[File:Hatteras Isl 90.0
    (32.2) cane Isabel.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of where 87.5
    (30.8) t inlets into Hatteras Island]] Cape Hatteras 82.5
    (28.1) opical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classificat 76.8
    (24.9) '), with mild winters, and warm to hot, humid 71.1
    (21.7) t of [[Hardiness zone|USDA Plant Hardiness Zone]] 9.<ref>{{cite web|url 91.4
    (33) reeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=2 959&submit=Look+it+up%21| Average high °F (°C) undation|author=The Arbor Day Foundation|work= 52.2
    (11.2) > It is surrounded by large bodies of water, w 53.5
    (11.9) o the west and northwest, and the Atlantic Oce 58.6
    (14.8) s from northeast through southwest. The proxi 66.3
    (19.1) ates conditions throughout the year, producing 73.7
    (23.2) warmer winters than inland areas of North Car 81.0
    (27.2) OAALCD> {{cite web |url= ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.g 84.6
    (29.2) ual/2014/01201413HSE.pdf|title= Local Climatol 84.1
    (28.9) Summary with Comparative Data: Cape Hatteras | 79.9
    (26.6) al Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |a 72.0
    (22.2) er 30, 2015}}</ref> The warmest days in July a 64.0
    (17.8) e an average high temperature of less than {{c 55.9
    (13.3) s a result of its proximity to water, temperatures above {{convert|90|° 68.9
    (20.5) age of only 2.3 days per summe above {{convert|90|°F|0} Average low °F (°C) one to three years out of each decade will no 38.7
    (3.7) °F readings. The coolest month, January, has a 40.0
    (4.4) onvert|45.5|°F|1}}, with lows normally well ab 44.6
    (7) F). The average window for freezing temperatu 52.6
    (11.4) r 12 to March 11 (allowing a growing season of 60.5
    (15.8) which there is an average of 21 nights with l 69.3
    (20.7) freezing mark,<ref name = NCDC /> though only 73.6
    (23.1) years does the thermometer stay at or below t 72.9
    (22.7) l day. Extremes in temperature range from {{co 69.0
    (20.6) [January 1985 Arctic outbreak|January 21, 1985 59.7
    (15.4) 97|°F|0}} on June 27, 1952.{{cn|date=March 201 51.2
    (10.7) served occasionally, and usually light.<ref na 42.7
    (5.9) ecipitation, mostly in the form of rain, is over {{convert|58|in}} per 56.3
    (13.5) coastal location in North Caro ina.<ref name=NOAALCD/> P Mean minimum °F (°C) distributed throughout the year in which July 23.1
    (−4.9) he wettest months.<ref name=NOAALCD/> On avera 26.2
    (−3.2) ettest month, owing to high frequencies of bot 30.5
    (−0.8) rms and tropical systems (hurricanes, tropical 38.0
    (3.3) al depressions) that affect the area, mostly f 47.1
    (8.4) y October.{{cn|date=March 2015}} Cape Hatter 57.4
    (14.1) highest-risk area for hurricanes and tropical 64.5
    (18.1) ntire U.S. Eastern seaboard. Cape Hatteras ca 63.8
    (17.7) icant wind and/or water damage from tropical s 57.5
    (14.2) lly northward or northeastward) near or over N 45.2
    (7.3) ter Banks, while other areas (i.e. Wilmington, 36.5
    (2.5) h and Charleston, SC to the south and Norfolk, 28.0
    (−2.2) Eastern Shore to the north) experience much less, minimal or no damage. 21.2
    (−6) s infamous for being frequentl struck by [[hurricane]]s Record low °F (°C) East Coast of the United States]]. The strike 6
    (−14) Isabel]] in 2003 was particularly devastating 11
    (−12) Isabel devastated the entire Outer Banks and a 19
    (−7) ras Island between the two small towns of [[F 26
    (−3) rolina|Frisco]] and [[Hatteras, North Carolina 39
    (4) [North Carolina State Highway 12|NC 12]], whic 44
    (7) irect route from [[Nags Head, North Carolina|N 52
    (11) [Hatteras Island]], was washed out when the hu 56
    (13) a new [[inlet]]. Students had to use a [[ferr 45
    (7) school. The inlet was filled in with sand by t 32
    (0) of Engineers which took nearly two months to c 22
    (−6) ad, electrical and water lines were quickly re 12
    (−11) nlet was filled.{{cn|date=March 2015}} <section begin="weather box" />{ 6
    (−14) Cape Hatteras ([[Billy Mitche l Airport]]), 1981&ndash; Average precipitation inches (mm) and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowe 5.24
    (133.1) ngs at any point during the year or given mont 4.02
    (102.1) on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.}} 4.77
    (121.2) t{{efn|Official temperature and precipitation 3.64
    (92.5) tteras were kept at [[Hatteras, North Carolina 3.57
    (90.7) nuary 1893 to February 1957, and at Billy Mitc 4.03
    (102.4) arch 1957. Snowfall and snow depth records dat 4.99
    (126.7) and 1 January 1948 respectively.<ref name = NC 6.93
    (176) rmation, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org Thr 6.25
    (158.8) first = Y |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |Jan 5.38
    (136.7) high F = 53.5 |Mar high F = 58.6 |Apr high F = 4.95
    (125.7) 73.7 |Jun high F = 81.0 |Jul high F = 84.6 |Au 4.27
    (108.5) high F = 79.9 |Oct high F = 72.0 |Nov high F = 64.0 |Dec high F = 55.9 58.04
    (1,474.2) 38.7 |Feb low F = 40.0 |Mar l w F = 44.6 |Apr low F = 5 Average snowfall inches (cm) F = 69.3 |Jul low F = 73.6 |Aug low F = 72.9 0.3
    (0.8) |Oct low F = 59.7 |Nov low F = 51.2 |Dec low 0.1
    (0.3) w F =56.3 |Jan avg record high F = 69.1 |Feb a 0
    (0) h F = 68.7 |Mar avg record high F = 72.9 |Apr 0
    (0) gh F = 78.1 |May avg record high F = 83.5 |Jun 0
    (0) igh F = 88.9 |Jul avg record high F = 90.6 |Au 0
    (0) high F = 90.0 |Sep avg record high F = 87.5 |O 0
    (0) high F = 82.5 |Nov avg record high F = 76.8 | 0
    (0) d high F = 71.1 |year avg record high F =91.4 0
    (0) rd low F = 23.1 |Feb avg record low F = 26.2 | 0
    (0) d low F = 30.5 |Apr avg record low F = 38.0 |M 0
    (0) low F = 47.1 |Jun avg record low F = 57.4 |Ju 1.3
    (3.3) F = 64.5 |Aug avg record low F = 63.8 |Sep avg record low F = 57.5 |Oct 1.7
    (4.3) Nov avg record low F = 36.5 |D c avg record low F = 28.0 Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) d high F = 82 | Apr record high F = 89 | May r 10.6 high F = 91 | Jun record high F = 97 | Jul rec 10.5 gh F = 96 | Aug record high F = 94 | Sep recor 10.3 F = 92 | Oct record high F = 89 | Nov record 8.8 F = 81 | Dec record high F = 78 |year record h 8.8 = 97 | Jan record low F = 6 | Feb record low 10.1 1 | Mar record low F = 19 | Apr record low F = 11.6 May record low F = 39 | Jun record low F = 44 11.2 record low F = 52 | Aug record low F = 56 | Se 9.6 ord low F = 45 | Oct record low F = 32 | Nov r 8.9 low F = 22 | Dec record low F = 12 |year reco 9.6 w F = 6 |precipitation colour = green |Jan pr 10.4 ation inch = 5.24 |Feb precipitation inch = 4.02 |Mar precipitation inc 120.4 ecipitation inch = 3.64 |May p ecipitation inch = 3.57 | Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) ch = 6.93 |Sep precipitation inch = 6.25 |Oct 0.4 pitation inch = 5.38 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.3 |Dec precipitation inch = 4.27 |year precipit 0 on inch=58.04 |Jul snow inch = 0 |Aug snow inc 0 0 |Sep snow inch = 0 |Oct snow inch = 0 |Nov 0 w inch = 0 |Dec snow inch = 1.3 |Jan snow inch 0 0.3 |Feb snow inch = 0.1 |Mar snow inch = 0 |A 0 snow inch = 0 |May snow inch = 0 |Jun snow inc 0 0 |year snow inch =1.7 |unit precipitation da 0 = 0.01 in |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan precip 0 tion days = 10.6 |Feb precipitation days = 10. 0 Mar precipitation days = 10.3 |Apr precipitati 0.3 ys = 8.8 |May precipitation days = 8.8 |Jun precipitation days = 10.1 1.0 ation days = 11.6 |Aug precipi ation days = 11.2 |Sep pr Average relative humidity (%) itation days = 8.9 |Nov precipitation days = 75.3 Dec precipitation days = 10.4 |year precipitat 74.3 ys=120.4 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 74.1 snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0 |Nov snow day 72.3 |Dec snow days = 0.3 |Jan snow days = 0.4 |Feb 77.3 days = 0.3 |Mar snow days = 0 |Apr snow days = 79.0 y snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |year snow 80.9 1.0 |Jan sun = 153.7 |Jan percentsun = 49 |Feb 80.6 162.8 |Feb percentsun = 53 |Mar sun = 224.8 | 78.5 rcentsun = 61 |Apr sun = 261.3 |Apr percentsun 75.8 |May sun = 278.3 |May percentsun = 64 |Jun sun 75.1 .4 |Jun percentsun = 63 |Jul sun = 282.9 |Jul 75.1 tsun = 64 |Aug sun = 267.1 |Aug percentsun = 64 |Sep sun = 233.0 |Sep p 76.5 su = 63 |Oct un = 207.2 |Oct percentsun = 5 |Nov sun = 170.8 |Nov pe Mean monthly sunshine hours |year percentsun = 60 |Jan humidity = 75.3 |F 153.7 dity = 74.3 |Mar humidity = 74.1 |Apr humidity 162.8 |May humidity = 77.3 |Jun humidity = 79.0 |Ju 224.8 ity = 80.9 |Aug humidity = 80.6 |Sep humidity 261.3 |Oct humidity = 75.8 |Nov humidity = 75.1 |Dec 278.3 ty = 75.1 |year humidity =76.5 |source 1 = NOA 272.4 tive humidity and sun 1961–1990)<ref name = NC 282.9 cite web |url = http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climat 267.1 s.php?wfo=mhx |title = NOWData - NOAA Online W 233.0 Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmos 207.2 Administration]] |accessdate = 2016-09-07}}</r 170.8 name="NOAA txt">{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.ncd 142.8 gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00093729.normals.txt 2,657.1 er National Oc anic and Atmospheric Administr tion |title=Station Name: Percent possible sunshine -09-07}}</ref><ref name= noaasun >{{cite web | 49 = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normal 53 BLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72304.TXT | title = WMO 61 ate Normals for CAPE HATTERAS, NC 1961&ndash;1 66 | accessdate = 2014-05-27 | publisher = Nation 64 ceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref> 63 ection end="weather box" /> ==History== [[Ima 64 ape Hatteras life saving station.jpg|thumb|The 64 e Hatteras Life Guard Station, which later bec 63 part of the Durant Motel, and was upended by H 59 cane Isabel in 2003]] The name Hatteras is the 55 th oldest surviving English place-name in the 47 An inlet north of the cape was named "Hatrask" in 1585 by [[Sir Richar 60 en ille]], the admiral leading the [[Roanoke Colony]] expedSource: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[5][6]<ref name='noaasun'>"WMO Climate Normals for CAPE HATTERAS, NC 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-27.

References

  1. ↑ USC 459
  2. ↑ Heavey, Bill (June 5, 1996). These are the Mid-Atlantic Bight, from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, and the South Atlantic Bight, from Cape Lookout to Cape Canaveral. "Point Well Taken" Check |url= value (help). The Washington Post. p. C9.
  3. ↑ The Arbor Day Foundation. "The Arbor Day Foundation". arborday.org.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Local Climatological Data–Annual Summary with Comparative Data: Cape Hatteras" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  6. ↑ "Station Name: NC CAPE HATTERAS AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  7. ↑ Stewart, George (1945). Names on the Land: a Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States. New York: Random House. p. 23.
  8. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 152.
  9. ↑ "The Best 5 Surfing Waves". rodndtube.com.
  10. ↑ "10 Best Surf Spots on the East Coast". Made Man.
  11. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  12. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/16/13 through 9/30/13. National Park Service. 2013-10-18.
  13. ↑ “Top 10 U.S. Beaches”’’The Travel Channel’’, Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  14. ↑ Hetter, Katia. “Dr. Beach names top 10 U.S. beaches for 2015’’’CNN’’, 23 June 2016, Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  15. ↑ “America’s Top 10 Beaches of 2015”’’Forbes’’, Retrieved 8 April 2016.
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