Ocracoke-mainland ferry operations suspended on Tuesday due to high winds; Overwash reported on northern Ocracoke

12:00 P.M. UPDATE: N.C. Highway 12 on northern Ocracoke Island is closed between the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry terminal and the National Park Service Pony Pens due to excessive flooding, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke has been suspended.

The Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter ferry operations have been suspended as of Tuesday morning due to high winds, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division. Ferry service will resume once weather conditions improve.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operations were temporarily suspended due to low visibility from heavy fog on Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m., but service resumed as of 9:00 a.m. Travel may be affected later in the day, however, by a coastal storm that is expected to impact the Outer Banks on Tuesday.

In addition, travelers are advised to avoid N.C. Highway 12 on northern Ocracoke Island around the times of high tide, per updates from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS). As of Tuesday morning, ocean overwash was reported on northern Ocracoke Island for a several-mile stretch, although the highway remained open as of 8:30 a.m.

The next high tide on Ocracoke Island is approximately 10 a.m.

To get notified of ferry delays or cancellations, sign up for text and email alerts via the N.C. Ferry System’s FINS system: www.ncdot.gov/fins. Users will get notified of any schedule changes directly from the terminal, and can unsubscribe at any time.

The public can also see updates on all three Ocracoke Island routes via the Ferry Division’s social media accounts at https://twitter.com/NCFerryHatteras/ and https://twitter.com/ncferrypamsound/.