UPDATE:   Snow Accumulation Forecast Increases; County Wide Closures for Thursday

The potential snowfall accumulation increased in the Wednesday afternoon storm briefing from the National Weather Service Forecast office in Newport /Morehead City. As of Wednesday afternoon, the forecasted accumulation is now 4-6 inches of snow north of Oregon Inlet, and 2-3 inches south.

Dare County Schools announced that schools will be cancelled on January 4, 2018, due to the storm. All Dare County offices will also be closed on Thursday, January 4, and criminal and civil court cases scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled as well.

Other than the increase in forecasted snow, little changed in the Wednesday afternoon update. Strong winds along the coast will lead to minor soundside flooding of the Outer Banks and high surf north of Cape Hatteras, and a total soundside water level rise of 2 to 3 feet is currently forecast during the storm.

Islanders should expect strong wind gusts, with maximum sustained winds in the 40-47 mph range, and maximum wind gusts in the 54- 59 mph range.

Hazardous travel is expected due to icing at the start of the storm, followed by accumulating snowfall. Strong winds will create blowing snow, and impacts may linger due to colder weather moving into the area.

Dare County was placed under a Winter Storm Warning on Tuesday afternoon, which is in effect from 3 p.m. on Wednesday until 1 p.m. on Thursday.  A Winter Weather Advisory was also issued for Ocracoke Island on Wednesday.

For more information, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather forecast information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.

The Island Free Press will continue to post updates on the potential storm and future snowfall as soon as they are available.

Winter Storm Warning Issued for Dare County
Winter Storm Headed for Eastern North Carolina