Rains start to diminish, but ocean overwash and coastal flooding still possible as Idalia moves away from the coast

The heavy rains from Tropical Storm Idalia that have impacted the Outer Banks since Wednesday night have started to diminish as of 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, however, N.C. Highway 12 remains inundated with water and sand in multiple locations, and travel should be avoided unless necessary. “Lots of standing water left from the rain on most […]

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For the first time in decades, Tropical Storm flag flies at U.S. Weather Bureau station in Hatteras village

For the first time in decades, a Tropical Storm flag was flying over the U.S. Weather Bureau station in Hatteras village – an addition that was made possible due to the recent installation of a coastal warning display tower (weather tower) that was a historical component of the site. The U.S. Weather Bureau, the predecessor […]

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For the first time in 16 years, a leatherback sea turtle nest successfully hatches on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore

For the first time in 16 years, a leatherback sea turtle nest has successfully hatched on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, (CHNS), with 19 hatchlings making their way to the Atlantic Ocean. The leatherback sea turtle nest on Ocracoke Island, (the first one in 11 years), was discovered on June 19, 2023, and the nest […]

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Idalia could bring 4-6 inches of rain and ocean overwash later this week; High risk of rip currents for Tuesday

Hurricane Idalia may bring a range of impacts to the Outer Banks area as early as Wednesday night, per an update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office. Rainfall and ocean hazards remain the leading threats from Idalia, (which is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by Thursday), with 4-6 inches of rain forecast […]

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“Focus on the Impacts” is a key message from Hurricane Preparedness Forum

“Focus on the impacts, impacts, impacts. Water is what kills. Do not focus on just the category of the storm.” This was one of the main messages shared by Erik Heden, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) local Warning Coordination Meteorologist, at a well-attended Hurricane Preparedness Forum held in Manteo on Wednesday, August 23. The forum, […]

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Public sea turtle nest excavation on Ocracoke Island uncovers three live baby sea turtles

Beachgoers who came to a public sea turtle nest excavation on Ocracoke Island on Monday morning, August 28, were rewarded for their efforts and tolerance of the hot weather, thanks to a close encounter with three baby green sea turtles that were discovered during the excavation process. Every summer, sea turtles visit the beaches of Hatteras […]

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Sea turtle nest excavation to take place on Monday at 10:00 a.m. on Ocracoke Island

Visitors and residents on Ocracoke Island are invited to join rangers at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore for a public sea turtle nest excavation on Monday, August 28, at a nest site approximately 0.04 miles north of the Pony Pen Beach Access. The excavation will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., and visitors can park in the lot adjacent […]

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NOAA webinar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the USS Monitor

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve 1862, the Civil War Ironclad, USS Monitor, sank beneath the ocean waves during a terrible storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. That morning, 16 men went down with the ship, and although numerous people searched for it for over a century, the Monitor’s final resting location remained a […]

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