A strong cold front will slowly move through the Outer Banks area on Tuesday afternoon and into tonight, bringing the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms as well as isolated flash flooding, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office. Rip currents also remain a threat for beachgoers on [...] Local News |  Full Article

Update: Tram service to the lighthouse will begin as soon as the National Park Service installs signage, the Observer learned today (Monday, June 21). The original version of this story said tram service to the lighthouse would begin Monday, as was announced in a public meeting June 17. Sometime after Monday, when passenger ferry service is scheduled [...] Local News |  Full Article

The 2.4 mile-long Jug Handle Bridge is 75% complete as of June 3, with a projected opening date of late 2021 or early 2022, per an early June update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The upcoming hurricane season could alter the estimated completion date, but once the bridge is officially open, work will [...] Local News |  Full Article

A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for the Outer Banks, as Claudette is expected to bring heavy rains, high winds, and minor coastal flooding to Eastern N.C. starting Sunday night, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office. Tropical Depression Claudette will move east-northeast through Sunday and [...] Local News |  Full Article

Although limited impacts are expected, everyone is encouraged to monitor weather forecasts as conditions may change. With Tropical Storm Claudette expected to move over eastern North Carolina Sunday evening into Monday morning, a tropical storm watch is in effect for Dare County. This indicates that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. [...] Local News |  Full Article

Tropical Storm Claudette formed on Saturday morning over coastal Louisiana, and though the system is expected lose tropical characteristics over land this weekend, the remnants will bring several impacts to Eastern NC, including heavy rains, high wind gusts, and the potential for coastal flooding, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / [...] Local News |  Full Article

Residents and visitors wishing to catch the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry during its 2021 summer season may now make reservations online or by phone. The passenger ferry, which will start its third season of operation June 21, shuttles passengers directly between the Hatteras Terminal and Ocracoke Village. The crossing time is approximately 65 minutes. This [...] Local News |  Full Article

Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard has released a video message addressing residents and visitors to the Outer Banks. In the video, Woodard comments on the current status of COVID-19 in Dare County—and remarks on the amount of progress that has been made toward vaccinating the county’s population against the virus. Woodard also [...] Local News |  Full Article

The remnants of Potential Tropical Cyclone 3, which is located in the Gulf of Mexico as of Friday morning, could bring heavy rains and minor coastal flooding to the Outer Banks early next week, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office. The current forecast from the National Hurricane Center [...] Local News |  Full Article

While hopes were high that the new oceanfront RV Park in Avon would be open in time for the summer season, the “Avon by the Sea RV Park” will not open to the public until the fall of 2021, per property owner and pier operator, Joe Thompson. The delay is due to the limited availability [...] Local News |  Full Article

A departure time heat map for the Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicular ferry was recently developed by the NCSU Institute for Transportation Research and Education to help travelers better plan their trip between Hatteras and Ocracoke, and to encourage folks to either arrive earlier, or wait until after the peak departure time, to reduce their anticipated wait time. The [...] Local News |  Full Article

Co-published with Coastalreview.org As a charter vessel approaches the South Ferry Channel, what appears to be the shadowy head of a cobra rising from an undulating body waits on the west side of the channel entrance, as if ready to strike. Countless other visual imaginings are no doubt possible from the stunning birds-eye view of Hatteras [...] Local News |  Full Article

The Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) is looking for volunteers to serve as Assessors who will help determine how CHUMM can assist families in need after a hurricane or other disaster impacts the Outer Banks. Per Dennis Carroll of CHUMM, one of the greatest barriers to the organization’s disaster response is a shortage of Assessors [...] Local News |  Full Article

Dare County released the following update for Tuesday, June 15, which provides details on recent Coronavirus cases, vaccine data, and more COVID-19 information. Dare County COVID-19 Case Update The total number of new positive cases reported in Dare County over the past week was 21. Of these 21 new cases: 18 (86%) are symptomatic 19 [...] Local News |  Full Article

Gov. Roy Cooper has signed a bill authorizing the state Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division to lease a passenger ferry for operation between Ocracoke and Hatteras. The $700,000 funding provision was included in Senate Bill 241, which also amends motor vehicle laws regulating modified utility vehicles on certain roads and highways. Cooper signed the bill Monday. [...] Local News |  Full Article