N.C. 12 remains open; Coastal Flood Warning Issued for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands;

N.C. Highway 12 remains open and passable after Friday morning’s 6:30 a.m. high tide, however, moderate to major ocean overwash is now possible for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office.

Wave runup from powerful swells will bring ocean overwash to locations with vulnerable dunes. Beachfront roads and properties could be inundated, with portions of N.C. Highway 12 impacted around the times of high tides.

Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands are now under a Coastal Flood Warning with inundation of 2 to 3 feet above ground possible for vulnerable beachfront roads and properties. Areas of concern include Pea Island, Rodanthe, north of Hatteras Village, and northern Ocracoke Island. Overwash resulting in 1 to 2 feet of inundation is also possible for the Core Banks and the northern Outer Banks.

The swell will peak today, with Friday evening’s high tide expected to be higher than Thursday’s tides, bringing the threat of more extensive overwash. The next high tide is at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening.

Per the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), while some sand and water remain on the road, N.C. Highway 12 is open throughout the Outer Banks. “Aside from some blown sand and rainwater in spots from last night’s thunderstorms, the roadway is clear,” stated NCDOT in a 7:30 a.m. update. “We’ll be out today doing some cleanup and shoring up dunes again, so drive carefully where you see our crews and where there might be some ponding.”