Rough Surf Expected in Ocean City

New Details

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (AP) -- It's shaping up to be another weekend of rough surf along parts of the East Coast.

For the second weekend in a row, a tropical weather system is threatening to stir up waves and rip currents from the Carolina coast to New England.

It's just the kind of conditions surf instructor Dave Houck likes: swells without the "mess" of a storm coming ashore. He was at Carolina Beach, N.C. today coaching some students.

One marina on the North Carolina island of Ocracoke (OHK'-ruh-kohk) says warnings of rough seas prompted a rash of cancellations of overnight docking space.

The National Weather Service says Tropical Storm Danny could produce swells as high as 7 feet offshore.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for much of the North Carolina.

As of 11 a.m., Eastern time, Danny was about 350 miles south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., with winds of 40 mph. It's been moving west but forecasters expect it to turn toward the northeast.

Update

MIAMI (AP) -- Forecasters say Tropical Storm Danny has weakened over the Atlantic and is barely a tropical storm.

But a tropical storm watch for the North Carolina coast remains in effect Friday morning. Large swells from Danny are expected to produce dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. East Coast over the next day or two.

Danny's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph (65 kph).

The storm is centered about 355 miles (570 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and moving north-northwest near 9 mph (15 kph).

A turn to the north with an increase in speed is expected later in the day.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tropical Storm Report

MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical Storm Danny has the U.S. East Coast in it's sights but the National Hurricane Center says the storm is poorly organized.

A tropical storm watch for the North Carolina coast remains in effect early Friday. Large swells are expected to produce dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents along the U.S. East Coast over the next day or two.

Danny's maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 kph) but forecasters say some strengthening is possible. The storm is centered about 445 miles (715 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and moving northwest near 10 mph (16 kph).

A turn to the north with an increase in speed is expected later in the day.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)