hatteras lighthouse goes dark

Winter Storms Cause Beacon Blackout at Diamond Shoals.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has gone dark. Winter storms have damaged the lighting system of the iconic guardian of the Outer Banks. Joy Crist, writing for the Island Free Press explains what happened and what is involved in relighting the beacon.

Before there was electricity. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 1894. According to the NPS the beacon was electrified in 1934.
Before there was electricity. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 1894. According to the NPS the beacon was electrified in 1934.

“The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been “turned off” for roughly a month now, due to damage from a wave of January storms.

Though it was not clear which exact storm caused the lighting issue, (whether it was the early January storm or the severe thunderstorms on January 12), the damage was reported by the weekend of January 13 to the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The NPS manages the lighthouse itself, while the U.S. Coast Guard maintains the operation of the light.”

 

[box type=”bio”] The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has gone dark and according to the Coast Guard, it will take some time to relight it. Get the details in the Island Free Press.[/box]