Hermine puts a damper on Labor Day in Ocean City

Hurricane Hermine turned out to be just a damper on Labor Day weekend, according to business owners and tourists in Ocean City.

The summer mecca experienced rain and high winds on Saturday, with waves reaching up to five feet around the Inlet. Ryan Wojcik, owner of Dester Designs and Souvenirs in the Inlet, said he experienced less foot traffic Saturday, however it did pick up after the rains subsided.

"I think the weather reports just scared people from coming, but after the rains died down in the early afternoon, we saw business pick up," Wojcik said. "We decided to close up a little early because we were afraid high tide would flood things down. But that's about it. It's been a little slower this Labor Day."

MORE ON HERMINE: Storm doesn't scare beachgoers from Bethany Beach

Sunday afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Orrock reported Hermine was about 400 miles off shore from Ocean City. Orrock said while there might be some intensification of the storm while it is out at sea, it didn't appear the storm would return to shore.

"It looks like it's going to stay out there," he said. "There was some concern yesterday it could get wrapped back up and head back to shore, but that's not the case now. It's still cranking out there, so for the next couple days we'll be seeing some breeze, rough waves and some minor tidal flooding."

Orrock added that as Hermine moves north, the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area and New England would be seeing a little more wind and higher waves than what the Delmarva Peninsula experienced this weekend.

That's a bit of a bummer, according to Patti and Jim from Enfield, Connecticut. Having just arrived in Ocean City Sunday afternoon and were enjoying a slice of pizza, Patti said she and her husband try to go to the resort town every Labor Day.

"We've never been out here when there was a storm of any kind, so I was kind of hoping to see what it would look like," Patti said. "But the waves are pretty nice to watch."

LEARN MORE: Sunday updates on Hermine

The Connecticut couple weren't the only storm watchers, according to Inlet business owner Delmar Smith. During the morning, Smith said he had to close Monkey Doodles and Treasure Island Country Store due to strong winds ripping shingles off the roofs. He kept open his other two ventures, Mr. T's and Doggie Style Canine Cafe, and was able to draw a little bit of business from the crowds that had formed along the Boardwalk to take in the storm.

"They were lined up from 8 a.m. throughout the day, taking pictures and videos of the waves," he said. "Around 1 p.m., we were able to reopen all the stores and we saw sales pick up during the mid-afternoon."

On Sunday, Smith said he believes the sunny, temperate weather would more than make up for the lost sales on Saturday.

"It's been a great Labor Day weekend so far," he said.

While it's business as usual on the Boardwalk, things aren't quite back to normal on the beach. The Ocean City Beach Patrol has an ankle-to-knee deep swimming restriction in place, meaning swimmers are only allowed to be ankle to knee deep in the waters.

410-845-4639

Twitter: @hculvyhousedmv