100. Although no tropical cyclones of hurricane strength made landfall 

 along the North Carolina coast during 1980, Hurricane Charley in August and 

 Hurricane George in September passed close enough to the FRF to influence the 

 wave conditions (see Figure 13). Hurricane Charley caused moderate waves in 

 excess of 1.5 m at the seaward end of the pier on 21 August while still in 

 the subtropical storm stage before intensifying and moving east well offshore. 

 Remnant 1-m-swell waves with associated 12- to 15-second periods were evident 

 during the first few days of September as Hurricane George moved north more 

 than 600 km offshore. 



101. 1980 was a typical year with respect to the winds at the FRF. 

 Seasonal variation (see Figure 14) from southerly in the warm months to nor- 

 therly in the cold with an overall western dominance was expected. The North 

 Carolina coast above Cape Hatteras did not experience the extreme winds asso- 

 ciated with the landfall of a hurricane, but was battered numerous times by 

 strong northeasters. 



Figure 13. Tracks of 1980 hurricane storms 

 affecting the FRF 



47 



