A waterspout spun up Sunday afternoon during thunderstorms on the Outer Banks, slamming into Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills before heading out to sea.
Witnesses reported seeing the spout form near the beach about 2:15 p.m., tossing umbrellas, beach gear and people as it headed east into the ocean. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office confirmed the waterspout, though it was unclear where the tornado formed. The service defines waterspouts as tornados over water.
Kill Devil Hills resident Rande Banks said he was standing at the front door of the pier at 2111 N. Virginia Dare Trail when he saw beach floats and debris “going in circles” at Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar directly across the beach road.
Banks ducked inside the pier and “got slammed” into the exterior wall of the bathroom. Someone was walking out of the bathroom at the time and when he opened the door, wind ripped it off its hinges, Banks said. Several railings along the pier were also damaged.
Banks said the fire department was on the scene Sunday afternoon to check for injuries, but he said he didn’t see anyone hurt. No one at the pier was immediately available for comment, but piercam video showed caution tape and damaged railings near the end of the pier.
The 66-year-old, 700-foot wooden pier over the Atlantic Ocean was also damaged during Hurricane Dorian in 2019, losing about 50 feet in length along with many railings.
