Flood Watch issued for the Outer Banks on Wednesday due to additional rainfall

A Flood Watch has been issued from 3 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday for Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island, Mainland Dare County, and the northern Outer Banks, per an update from the National Weather Service.

A low pressure system will move through the coastal North Carolina area on Wednesday, which will be capable of dropping 4-6″ of additional rain over the Outer Banks, north of Ocracoke Inlet.

With the recent heavy rainfall, these new downpours could exacerbate flooding concerns for low-lying areas throughout the coastal N.C. region, especially in areas that are already inundated with water.

A record amount of rainfall was recorded on Monday along the Outer Banks, according to SamWalkerOBXNews.com, with 3.75 inches of rain recorded at Cape Hatteras on Monday, breaking the previous record for March 4 of 2.47 inches, which was set in 2016.

No soundside or oceanside flooding is anticipated at this time, and all flooding concerns are solely related to heavy rains.

After the rain tapers off Thursday morning, more showers are expected on Saturday, followed by a period of dry, warm, and breezy conditions.

For more information on the local 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/.