OBX Oceanfront Erosion

If someone tells you there is no erosion along the Outer Banks oceanfront, talk to someone else. There is definitely beachfront erosion. Generally, local municipalities usually manage the situation with beach nourishment or the erosion rate is minimal in an area and not much of a concern. However, there are areas where the beach erosion is accelerated and is causing problems.

The areas with the least amount of erosion are Corolla, Southern Shores, the south end of Kill Devil Hills, and the north end of Nags Head. In between these areas the beaches tend to erode at a faster rate causing a scallop effect.

The areas with the worst erosion are where you will find the ridiculously low-priced beach front homes. These houses are what we call Oceanfront Wash-ins because they are getting ready to get washed into the ocean.

Fortunately, most of the towns are implementing Beach Nourishment to replenish the lost sand.

The contour of the ocean floor along with fragments of shipwrecks moving around on the ocean currents results in varying erosion rates. While areas like Southern Shores, Corolla, and Nags Head often have stable, and even accretive beaches, areas like Kitty Hawk, South Nags Head, and the north end of Rodanthe are known for high erosion rates. A variety of erosion maps are available here. OBX Beach Erosion Maps