Severe Overnight Weather Brought 54 MPH Wind Gusts; Standing Water Reported on N.C. Highway 12

A bout of severe weather that impacted Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on Monday night and early Tuesday morning brought up to 54 mph wind gusts along the Outer Banks, and led to standing water and sand on N.C. Highways 12 in several locations, per multiple reports.

Standing water and hazardous travel conditions were reported on Hatteras Island as of Monday morning, and particularly north of Rodanthe on Pea Island where NCDOT personnel were stabilizing the dunes and clearing the roadway. Travelers are advised to proceed with caution, and to allow for extra travel time as needed, as delays are possible.

Per the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Newport / Morehead City, Avon recorded 54 mph gusts overnight, while Frisco Woods reported gusts of 41 mph and Oregon Inlet reported gusts of 44 mph.

While the latest overnight storm brought minimal rain, the Outer Banks has been steadily inundated with rainfall over the past week, with 2.96” of rain recorded since last Tuesday, February 9.

1.19 inches of rainfall was reported from Sunday, February 14, through Monday morning, February 15, alone.

Per the NWS, after a quick round of showers this morning, skies will clear this afternoon, and the sun may finally reappear, with dry conditions continuing through Wednesday.

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