UPDATE: Strong Winds, Possible Soundside Flooding Forecast for Sunday Night and Monday Morning

Minor soundside flooding is possible and high winds are expected Sunday night through early Monday morning, per the Sunday afternoon briefing from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City Office.

A low pressure has been strengthening near Cape Hatteras as of late Sunday afternoon. As the low continues to strengthen and move up and away from the N.C. coast, strong west winds will develop Sunday evening and last though early Monday morning.

Gale Warnings have been issued for most coastal waters, and a Wind Advisory has been issued for the Outer Banks. Minor soundside flooding is expected in soundside Dare County through early Monday, with wind gusts up to 45 to 55 mph possible on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

Water level rises up to around 2 feet above normal are expected to produce minor soundside flooding on the Outer Banks tonight into early Monday, due to the strong westerly winds.

1 to 2 inches of rain have fallen across Eastern NC, with the bulk of the heaviest rain now over for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

For more information visit as well as local forecasts, visit http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ or https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.