If this storm was tropical in nature, it would be a strong tropical storm.
However, it is an “ordinary” but extra intense coastal storm with the center of the low pressure area just off the North Carolina Coast. You can tell from these spot reports that it is no ordinary storm:
…74 air miles east of Virginia Beach, wind NE, gusts 60 mph with 24 foot waves.
…Chesapeake Light House, wind NE 61, gusts 67 mph
…Elizabeth City, N.C., heavy rain, wind north 49, gusts 69 mph
…Norfolk, heavy rain, wind NE 41, gusts 56
…New Bern, N.C., 4.56 inches of rain
…3.18 inches in Fayetteville, N.C.
…4.38 inches at Cape Hatteras
…12 miles south of Oregon Inlet, N.C., highway 12 has been closed due to ocean overwash. On the ocean side of highway 12, water was waist deep
