'What have you got us into?': Couple spends anniversary in middle of Ophelia's wrath
Sam and Kayla Norris braved the treacherous conditions of Tropical Storm Ophelia on Friday, when they drove to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, for their third wedding anniversary.
Couple caught in Tropical Storm Ophelia during anniversary trip
Video shot from inside the Sam and Kayla Norris's vehicle shows sand and sea foam sweeping across the road, causing visibility to drop to virtually zero.
CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. – Sam and Kayla Norris braved the treacherous conditions of Tropical Storm Ophelia on Friday, when they drove to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, for their third wedding anniversary.
The couple said they encountered rain and powerful wind during their trip, along with sand blowing sideways and sea foam blowing over the sand dunes.
Sam and Kayla Norris speak to FOX Weather multimedia journalist Brandy Campbell.
(Brandy Campbell / FOX Weather)
Kayla Norris recorded a video of the weather conditions from inside the couple's vehicle. The recording showed sand and sea foam sweeping across the road, causing visibility to drop to virtually zero.
TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA BLASTS MID-ATLANTIC AFTER NORTH CAROLINA LANDFALL
"God bless!" she could be heard saying in the video. "Look at that (expletive), man! What have you got us into?"
A still from the video Kayla Norris recorded while she and husband Sam were driving through Ophelia.
(Sam and Kayla Norris / FOX Weather)
By Saturday morning, the couple were able to enjoy calmer weather in Cape Hatteras.
Road conditions during Ophelia were a point of concern for many in Cape Hatteras and throughout the Outer Banks.
North Carolina Department of Transportation crews were out on Friday, clearing sand and water from the roadway where possible. The images below show tractors on State Route 12, which runs down the Outer Banks and through Cape Hatteras, trying to keep the road passable.
![North Carolina DOT crews clearing sand and water from the roadway. Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.]()
Image 1 of 3North Carolina DOT crews clearing sand and water from the roadway. Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. (NCDOT NC 12)
![North Carolina SR 12 on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.]()
Image 2 of 3North Carolina SR 12 on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (NCDOT NC 12)
![North Carolina SR 12 on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 3North Carolina SR 12 on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (NCDOT NC 12)
On Saturday morning, NC DOT noted that SR12 remained open and passable, despite many areas where the road may still have some sand and water. They asked drivers to exercise caution when going out on the road and suggested drivers wait until Sunday to venture out when conditions would be more favorable.