N.C. Highway 12 opens at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday

N.C. Highway 12 opened between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, however, patches of standing saltwater and sand remain on the roadway, and travelers are advised to drive slowly and use caution.

N.C. Highway 12 closed on Sunday between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet, and has remained closed over the past two days due to breeched dunes and multiple cycles of ocean overwash.

Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operations are also running on Tuesday, however, they are currently running a one-boat schedule, per a Tuesday morning update from the N.C. Ferry System.

Departure times from Hatteras are 6 a.m., 9 a.m., Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight, and departure times from Ocracoke are 4:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Standing water was reported on several stretches of N.C. Highway 12 where ocean overwash has occurred over the past two days, and specifically in northern Buxton, Avon, and the Muirlo Beach area of Rodanthe. Residents and visitors are advised to drive slowly through all areas of standing water, as saltwater can damage vehicles.

The coastal storm has moved away from the Outer Banks area, and weather conditions will continue to improve on Tuesday with warmer than normal temperatures. For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.

Driving conditions north of Rodanthe on Monday afternoon. Video by Rory Kelleher.