OBX watches Tropical Storm Danny

HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. - The beauty of nature and her power were evident Friday evening on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Surf crashed against the Avon Fishing Pier while families played just at the water's edge.

For many tourists, watching the Atlantic has become a staple vacation activity. It is the second time in as many weeks that a named tropical system is making its way up the Atlantic.

Kristen Hausenfluck of Norfolk was there when Hurricane Bill moved North. She told WAVY.com, "Nothing compared to Saturday. The waves were all the way up to the pier."

Tropical Storm Danny is weaker than Bill was, and forecasters say the surf won't be as high.

However, like Bill, Danny is producing strong rip currents. It seems tourists are heeding warnings that it's simply too dangerous to venture in too far.

For small children, digging in the sand and looking for hermit crabs is the extent of their beach entertainment.

Angela Frisko of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said the adults in are watching the water and the kids. "We're keeping them pretty far back, keeping our eyes on them," she said.

Some surfers tried to take on the waves.

Bob McCord said he came out to the water in Buxton, N.C., near the Lighthouse. McCord, who is on vacation from Alexandria, said his experience tells him to sit this one out and wait for the tropical threat to pass.

"The surf is very angry today, so I'm just staying on shore... People in the know say no swimming, so I trust their word for it," McCord said.

Dare County Emergency Management officials are urging people to monitor weather updates.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has crews on stand-by for Ocracroke Island and Highway 12 in the Outer Banks in case water or sand starts to cover the roads.