Friday Beach Report: Wait Is On for Surfers

Hurricane Katia has come as close as she will, and on Friday morning, she's heading out over the open Atlantic Ocean toward Europe.

Big surf generated by the distant storm is still hammering the beaches, which are seeing worse erosion than anything created by Hurricane Irene at the end of August.

Most surfers early on Friday morning are waiting for the storm surf to relent a bit. A constant barrage of overhead waves are still hitting the beaches, but an light offshore wind (that may turn from the north) could help improve conditions as the storm moves away.

The breaks on the downtown beaches seem to be lining up a little better than those on the north end in the morning. Conditions everywhere should improve through the day.

Back on the beach, it's cool and overcast in the morning, but the official forecast calls for gradual clearing and a mostly sunny afternoon with a high temperature of 77 degrees.

The ocean water temperature is still 72 degrees, and some beaches are still guarded by the Ocean City Beach Patrol, but swimming conditions are still dangerous.

Low tide is about noon, and high tide comes again at 6:22 p.m.

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O.C. surf cams and reports:

Heritage Surf: Surf cam, 
7th Street Surf Shop: Surf cam, 
Surfers Supplies: Forecast, 
The Surfers View: O.C. wave cam
48th Street: Beach cam
Ocean water temperature: At Atlantic City's Steel Pier