Core Banks, North Carolina

{{Short description|Barrier islands in North Carolina, US}} {{Infobox islands | name = Core Banks | native_name = | image_name = File:Cape Lookout Lighthouse - 2013-06 - 10.JPG | image_caption = Cape Lookout Lighthouse | image_alt = | area_km2 = | coordinates = {{Coord|34|42|23|N|76|27|32|W|region:US-NC_type:isle_source:GNIS|display=inline}} | archipelago = | country = United States | largest_city = | demonym = | population = no permanent population | density_km2 = 0 | map = North Carolina | location = Southern Outer Banks, Carteret County, North Carolina, United States | country_admin_divisions_title = Nearest city | country_admin_divisions = Harkers Island, NC | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Governing body | country_admin_divisions_1 = National Park Service }}

The '''Core Banks''' are barrier islands in North Carolina, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Named after the Coree tribe, they extend from Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Lookout, and consist of two low-relief narrow islands, '''North Core Banks''' and '''South Core Banks''', and, since September 2011, two smaller islands. New Drum Inlet, Old Drum Inlet and Ophelia Inlet now separate the islands. The Core Banks are now uninhabited. However, Portsmouth, at the north end of the North Core Banks, was once a substantial port, and Cape Lookout Village, about one and half miles south of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, contains the historic Lookout Life-Saving Station, a U.S. Coast Guard Station, and several island homes.

==Access== Islands can be reached by two vehicle ferries. One ferry crosses Core Sound from Atlantic to North Core Banks, and another crosses the sound from Davis to South Core Banks. There are no roads on the islands: vehicles use the beach and four wheel drive tracks. Passenger ferries also take tourists from Harkers Island to the Cape Lookout area at the south end of South Core Banks.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/ferry.htm Cape Lookout National Seashore: Ferry Services]</ref>

Portsmouth Island, on which Portsmouth Village stands, is a tidal island accessible from North Core Banks at most states of the tide.

==History== The Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station, Cape Lookout Light Station, and Cape Lookout Village Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

== Geography == [[File:Roanoke map 1584.JPG|thumb|1584 map by John White showing Core Banks.]] The geography of the Core Banks has changed since the mid 19th century. At that time South Core Banks was connected to the Shackleford Banks. Over the years inlets have closed and opened in the barrier islands. From north to south these inlets have been Whalebone Inlet, now closed, which separated Portsmouth Island from the Core Banks, Swash Inlet (closed), Old Drum Inlet (closed in 1971 and reopened by Hurricane Irene in 2011), New Drum Inlet (opened by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1971), Ophelia Inlet (opened by Hurricane Ophelia in 2005<ref>{{cite web|title=Past, Present and Future Inlets of the Outer Banks Barrier Islands, North Carolina|author=David J. Mallinson|year=2008|url=http://www.ecu.edu/icsp/ICSP/Reports_files/PastPresentAndFutureInletsDec2008.pdf|display-authors=etal|access-date=2011-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016221534/http://www.ecu.edu/icsp/ICSP/Reports_files/PastPresentAndFutureInletsDec2008.pdf|archive-date=2011-10-16|url-status=dead}} page 12</ref>), Cedar Inlet (closed) and Barden Inlet (opened by a hurricane in 1933, separating Shackleford Banks from South Core Banks).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070626232108/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/science/9/chap3.htm Barrier Island Ecology of Cape Lookout National Seashore, NPS Scientific Monograph No.9, Chapter 3]</ref>

From northeast to southwest, the islands are located in the Townships of Portsmouth, Atlantic, Sea Level, Stacy, Davis, Smyrna, and Harkers Island, all in Carteret County.

==Climate==

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Core Banks, North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (''Cfak''). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Core Banks, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Core Banks is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during the Atlantic hurricane season which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 10 °F (< -12 °C). The plant hardiness zone in Core Banks is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 15.3 °F (-9.3 °C).<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=August 6, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak in nor'easter activity is in February.

{{Weather box | width = auto | single line = Y | location = Core Banks, NC (1981-2010 Averages) | Jan high F = 52.8 | Feb high F = 54.4 | Mar high F = 60.0 | Apr high F = 67.1 | May high F = 74.1 | Jun high F = 80.9 | Jul high F = 83.9 | Aug high F = 83.2 | Sep high F = 79.7 | Oct high F = 71.9 | Nov high F = 64.5 | Dec high F = 56.2 | year high F = 69.1 | Jan mean F = 45.6 | Feb mean F = 47.4 | Mar mean F = 53.1 | Apr mean F = 60.7 | May mean F = 68.4 | Jun mean F = 76.1 | Jul mean F = 79.4 | Aug mean F = 78.5 | Sep mean F = 74.5 | Oct mean F = 65.4 | Nov mean F = 57.4 | Dec mean F = 49.1 | year mean F = 63.0 | Jan low F = 38.5 | Feb low F = 40.5 | Mar low F = 46.2 | Apr low F = 54.4 | May low F = 62.6 | Jun low F = 71.2 | Jul low F = 74.9 | Aug low F = 73.8 | Sep low F = 69.4 | Oct low F = 59.0 | Nov low F = 50.3 | Dec low F = 41.9 | year low F = 57.0 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 4.54 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.68 | Mar precipitation inch = 4.44 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.34 | May precipitation inch = 4.20 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.45 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.98 | Aug precipitation inch = 7.25 | Sep precipitation inch = 6.59 | Oct precipitation inch = 4.51 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.05 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.01 | year precipitation inch = 57.04 | humidity colour = green | Jan humidity = 72.9 | Feb humidity = 73.6 | Mar humidity = 72.0 | Apr humidity = 72.7 | May humidity = 74.8 | Jun humidity = 77.9 | Jul humidity = 80.8 | Aug humidity = 79.2 | Sep humidity = 78.3 | Oct humidity = 75.4 | Nov humidity = 76.0 | Dec humidity = 74.4 | year humidity = 75.7 | Jan dew point F = 37.4 | Feb dew point F = 39.4 | Mar dew point F = 44.3 | Apr dew point F = 51.9 | May dew point F = 60.1 | Jun dew point F = 68.7 | Jul dew point F = 73.0 | Aug dew point F = 71.5 | Sep dew point F = 67.3 | Oct dew point F = 57.4 | Nov dew point F = 49.9 | Dec dew point F = 41.3 | year dew point F = 55.3 |source 1 = PRISM<ref name=prism>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|accessdate=August 6, 2019}}</ref>}}

{{Weather box | width = auto | single line = Y | location = Cape Hatteras, NC Ocean Water Temperature (64 NE Core Banks) | Jan mean F = 49 | Feb mean F = 46 | Mar mean F = 52 | Apr mean F = 59 | May mean F = 68 | Jun mean F = 74 | Jul mean F = 78 | Aug mean F = 80 | Sep mean F = 77 | Oct mean F = 70 | Nov mean F = 58 | Dec mean F = 55 | year mean F = 64 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html|title=Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions|accessdate=August 6, 2019}}</ref>}}

==Ecology==

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Core Banks, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type of Live oak/Sea Oats ''Uniola paniculata'' (''90'') with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (''20'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|accessdate=August 6, 2019|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> File:Core Banks ferry - 2013-06 - 1.JPG|Access by ferry File:Cape Lookout Lighthouse - 2013-06 - 03.jpg|Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters. File:Cape Lookout Lighthouse view - 2013-06 - 2.JPG|View from Cape Lookout Lighthouse looking North East File:Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station - 2013-06 - 03.jpg|Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station File:Portsmouth - Methodist Church - 03.JPG|Portsmouth church File:Core Banks beach - 2013-06 - 12.JPG|Bodyboarding near ''Great Island'' cabins File:Core Banks beach - 2013-06 - 14.JPG|Surf fishing File:Core Banks vehicles - 2013-06 - 02a.JPG|Recreational vehicle customized for beach driving and surf fishing. File:Core Banks cars - 2013-06 - 1.JPG|In 1976, about 1,500 vehicles were removed from the island.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19760625&id=m5UbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=glEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6592,5039852 The Dispatch; Jun 25, 1976]</ref> Few remain. File:Core Banks shipwreck - 2013-06 - 3.JPG|Many shipwreck remains can be found on the beaches<ref>{{cite web|last=Surface Interval Diving Company (SIDCO)|title=The 2002 and 2005 Core Banks Beach Wreck Survey(s)|url=http://www.computer-therapy.com/sidco/cbs.html|accessdate=2 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014061415/http://www.computer-therapy.com/sidco/cbs.html|archive-date=2011-10-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> File:Cape Lookout Point - 2013-06 - 09.JPG|Confusing wave patterns at the beach at Cape Lookout point. Waves are coming from several directions. File:Core Banks - Aug 2017 - 58.jpg|Fires are allowed on the beach </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{Succession box | title = Beaches of The Outer Banks | years = | with = | before = Portsmouth Island | after = Cape Lookout }} {{S-end}}

{{Coord|34|42|23|N|76|27|32|W|region:US-NC_type:isle_source:GNIS|display=title}}

Category:Barrier islands of North Carolina Category:Beaches of North Carolina Category:Islands of Carteret County, North Carolina Category:Outer Banks