Cold Weather Advisory issued for the Outer Banks
A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island, and the northern Outer Banks from 4:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Thursday due to minimum apparent temperatures in the low teens, according to an update from the National Weather Service.
The public is advised to keep pets indoors as much as possible and to dress appropriately, as extreme cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Residents should also take steps to prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes by wrapping, draining, or allowing pipes to drip slowly.
The cold weather that arrived on Tuesday is expected to persist into this weekend, and confidence is increasing that a low pressure system will bring a threat for some light wintry weather across the Outer Banks from Friday night until Saturday.
As of January 7, there is a 10-40% chance of light snow and/or light ice accumulations across Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, beginning Friday and continuing through Saturday morning.
Precipitation type and amounts for later this week are still uncertain, and could change in the next several days based on updates from the NWS.
A list of local Outer Banks resources for additional information is as follows:
- For information on the local forecast, visit weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
- 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.
- 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.
