Strong cold front may bring coastal flooding to the Outer Banks on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 9-10

A strong cold front is expected to impact the Outer Banks on Tuesday and Wednesday, (January 9-10), bringing multiple hazards to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, including high winds, heavy rains, and the potential for coastal flooding, per a Friday morning update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate on Tuesday morning, with the strongest winds and heaviest rains expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning. Strong to severe thunderstorms, and localized flooding from heavy rains, is possible.

Powerful southerly swell, strong winds, and elevated water levels could produce significant overwash and coastal flooding, especially along the immediate coast south of Cape Hatteras, and along the north and west shores of the Pamlico Sound and nearby tributaries.

The exact strength of the winds ahead of the cold front will largely determine the extent of coastal impacts, and more specific details on the local forecast are expected to come into focus within the next several days.

For more information on the eastern N.C. 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/.