An examination of Inlet locations on the Core Banks over the last 4 years. 

-Images obtained from DigitalGlobe.

This first picture is from August 20, 2005, just before Hurricane Ophelia.  This is more or less what the banks have looked like for the last 20 years, in regards to inlet locations.  Old Drum, I believe, has opened and closed a few times during this period

Hurricane Ophelia had a pretty drastic impact on the banks both opening the eponymously named Ophelia Inlet, deepening and widening Old Drum, and setting in motion the closing of New Drum.  This is what is has looked like for the last 2 years or so.  This picture from January 27, 2007.

*Notice how Ophelia Bank/Island is recessed a little from the shorelines of North, Middle and South Core Banks.

Now we take a look at a picture from June 22, 2008.  Sorry it doesn’t have Old Drum, but I can tell you that last November it was definitely there, very narrow and seemed pretty deep.

*Notice again how Ophelia bank keeps “drifting” westward and is now set even further back from South and Middle Banks.  This will set up the southward Longshore Drift of sand that will not shoal or close up New Drum Inlet, but instead will allow Middle Core to overlap in front of Ophelia Bank/Island.

Our last and most complete pic from March 8, 2009.  Here you see what I was talking about in the pic above; Middle Core has extended in front of Ophelia Island thus effectively closing New Drum.  There appears to be a creek where New Drum was, but this may be high tide.  I cannot speak to it or the state of Old Drum since I haven’t seen it in person yet this year, but they appear basically closed.  From what I’ve read and learned, an inlet can still be considered and inlet as long as there is water over the location at low tide.  I may be mistaken.

I would not be a bit surprised if Ophelia Inlet closes before the end of next year, possibly replaced with another inlet elsewhere on the banks.