UPDATE: N.C. Highway 12 on northern Ocracoke Island reopens
12:00 P.M. UPDATE: N.C. Highway 12 on northern Ocracoke Island has reopened as of noon on Saturday, Feb 23. There is still sand and saltwater on the road, and travelers are advised to slow down and use caution.
The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry has also resumed normal ferry operations starting with the 1:00 p.m. departure from Hatteras.
N.C. Highway 12 is closed on northern Ocracoke Island due to ocean overwash that accompanied Saturday morning’s high tide, per a 7:30 a.m. update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry has also suspended operations until the highway reopens.
Overwash has routinely been reported on the highway between the NPS Pony Pens and the Ocracoke-Hatteras ferry terminal during high tide cycles for the past few weeks.
Once the highway reopens, additional overwash may be possible during subsequent high tides.
The next high tides on Ocracoke Island are approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 24, and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, Feb 25.
- To get notified of ferry delays or cancellations, sign up for text and/or 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.
- For updates regarding road conditions, visit DriveNC.gov and follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on its Facebook page.
- For more information on the local weather 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/.
