Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch Issued for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands

A Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the N.C. coastline as Hurricane Florence remains on track for a late Thursday night or Friday morning landfall, per the Tuesday morning update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City office.

Tropical storm force winds could arrive as early as Wednesday night, and Dare County Emergency Management urges residents to have their preparations completed by Wednesday afternoon. Residents are advised to prepare for life-threatening surge with 5 to 8 feet of surge forecast from Cape Lookout to Ocracoke Inlet, and up to 10 inches of rain forecast for Ocracoke Island. Up to 8 inches of rain is forecast for Hatteras Island, and particularly Hatteras village.

A mandatory evacuation remains in place for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands for both residents and visitors as of Monday afternoon. Travelers should watch for ocean overwash, which has been reported on Pea Island near the Captain Richard Etheridge Bridge and the Pea Island Visitors Center, especially around high tide. The next high tide is around 9 p.m. this evening.