Jim Cantore, known as the Weather Channel’s storm doomsayer, emerged in the dark on North Carolina’s Outer Banks Friday night to report heavy snowfall across the state and forecast hurricane-force winds and coastal flooding.
Cantore is located in Duck, about 380 miles northeast of Charlotte.
“Especially at Duck, and that’s one of the reasons we’re here, is to get this double story,” Cantor said in a 38-second Facebook video that had attracted 1.3 million views as of noon Saturday. “Especially Sunday morning. That’s what we saw in Duck.
“We’re also talking about snowstorm conditions,” he said. “Well, this loose snow is going to mix with the sand. It’s going to be a mess here tomorrow afternoon.”
Although the snow along the coast should end Sunday morning, “it’s still going to be windy with low-altitude bombs off the East Coast, and we’re going to get hurricane-force gusts over the water,” Cantor said.
“The fun begins”
Social media commentators said they knew they were facing a major weather event.
“You know you’re in trouble when Jim Cantor is in your neighborhood!!” one woman posted on Facebook.
“Seeing the one and only Jim Cantor in the Outer Banks is the surest sign yet that ‘my island’ will suffer the worst effects of this once-in-a-century winter storm,” one man said.
“The fun begins when Jim shows up,” one woman posted.