Hurricane Irene made landfall about 20 miles north Ocean City at dawn on Sunday, and within hours surfers were watching and waiting for the winds to shift and turn a stormy swirl into clean sets of waves.

By early evening, they were rewarded with consistent waves of 6 to 8 feet and sets that topped 10 feet.

Surfing on the East Coast is a study in meteorology and patience. Surfers wait for the right combination of conditions and are ready to go when the time is right. Sunday was a day they'll remember all year. And the solid surf hung around for two more days.

We can't promise good surf for the rest of the week, but here are some images from the peak of the swell.