N.C. Highway 12 remained open between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet on Tuesday morning, after closing for roughly three hours on Monday afternoon due to ocean overwash, however, sand and water remain on the roadway, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
Several secondary roads on Hatteras Island still have deep sand and flooding as well, and travelers are advised to slow down and avoid flooded areas.
Additional overwash and soundside flooding remain possible on Tuesday, and a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight, due to the low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic which is expected to move away from the coast over the next 24-36 hours.
Minor soundside flooding with inundation of 1-2 ft. of very low-lying properties and roadways is expected adjacent to the Pamlico Sound from today into Wednesday, and 2-3 ft. of oceanside inundation is expected north of Cape Hatteras, and is likely to impact travel along N.C. Highway 12.
While there was no additional overwash on the highway with Tuesday’s 2:30 a.m. high tide, oceanside flooding is most likely around the afternoon’s high tide, which is approximately 3:30 p.m.
A High Surf Advisory is also in effect due to large breaking waves of 8-10 feet in the surf zone from Duck to Cape Hatteras. Swimmers should remain out of the water due to the dangerous surf conditions.
Ferry service for all the Hatteras-Ocracoke Island ferry remains suspended as of Tuesday morning due to the weather conditions. The Ocracoke-mainland ferries have resumed operations.
For updated information regarding road conditions on N.C. Highway 12, follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation on Facebook at www.facebook/ncdotnc12, on Twitter @NCDOTNC12 or visit drivenc.gov.
For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or visit the NWS Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
