High winds, heavy seas forecast for Outer Banks By IRENE NOLAN

The National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City is forecasting drier weather tonight into the weekend as a cold front moves offshore, but an associated deepening offshore low will pump up the winds and seas along the Outer Banks.

The Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory and a high surf advisory for the area. Gale warnings are also in effect for coastal waters and the Pamlico Sound.

The high wind advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. this evening until 5 p.m. on Saturday.  Winds are expected to be northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 or 50. Winds will diminish Saturday night into Sunday, but could still gust to 35 through the period.

The high surf advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. this evening until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The increasing northeast winds will build near-shore seas to 10 feet north of Cape Hatteras.  Breaking waves heights will be in the 7- to 9-foot range, resulting in some beach erosion and minor ocean overwash on east-facing beaches.

In addition, there is a coastal flood advisory in effect from 11 p.m. this evening until 8 p.m. Saturday.  Water levels on the ocean side of the Outer Banks, north of Cape Hatteras, are expected to be about 2 feet above normal.

The Weather Service says that conditions will improve late Saturday evening, though elevated surf heights will continue into Sunday because of the persistent northeast winds.

There is also an enhanced threat of rip currents along the beaches this weekend into next week.

Showers are expected this afternoon into this evening when the chance for precipitation is 60 percent.  The rain will quickly diminish as the front moves offshore overnight and early Saturday.

After a slight chance of a shower early Saturday morning, mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected over the weekend with highs in the upper 70s.

For more information on the forecast, go to the local Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/mhx/.  Or check out the local office on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/?fref=ts.