kayaking (both ocean and sound-side), swimming, sailboarding, surfing, kiteboarding, and Wreck diving, among others. Climate According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Rodanthe, 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 Rodanthe, 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). Rodanthe 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 Rodanthe is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 16.9 °F (-8.4 °C). The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak in nor'easter activity is in February. Ecology According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Rodanthe, 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). Education Residents are zoned to Dare County Schools. Zoned schools are Cape Hatteras Elementary School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School. In popular culture Nights in Rodanthe In 2002, Nicholas Sparks published the book Nights in Rodanthe, a romance novel about two visitors to Rodanthe. George C. Wolfe directed a film adaptation of the same name, which was partially filmed in the town of Rodanthe and entirely filmed in eastern North Carolina – including Cape Hatteras, Southport and Wilmington. The movie was released on September 26, 2008. Several Rodanthe landmarks such as the Rodanthe Pier were used during filming. During film production, one of the rental houses, "Serendipity", the northeasternmost house in Rodanthe, was transformed into the fictional "Inn at Rodanthe". In November 2009, the house was damaged and declared a public nuisance by Dare County after a nor'easter storm.