Potential Tropical Cyclone 10 is Inching Closer; Closures Announced By JOY CRIST

Per the 8 p.m. briefing from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone 10 remains on track to move up the North Carolina coastline on Tuesday. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from north of Surf City to Duck, NC.

Due to the inclement weather concerns, Dare County Schools will be closed for all students and staff on Tuesday. The Hyde County Board of Commissioners also declared a state of emergency as of 5 p.m. on Monday. Hyde County offices will be closed tomorrow, although Hyde County convenience sites will be open, both on the mainland and on Ocracoke Island.

Hazards associated with the storm include high winds, heavy rain with flooding of roadways and low lying areas, and dangerous surf conditions.

Soundside flooding of 1 to 2 feet is also anticipated across all areas of Dare County as the storm pulls away late Tuesday.

4 to 6 inches of rainfall with locally higher amounts is also forecast during the storm, from Monday night into Tuesday.  

Regardless of whether a tropical cyclone formation occurs – which could happen within the next 24 hours while the storm moves up the Outer Banks – tropical storm conditions are still expected for the Outer Banks area, per the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts of 50 mph or more are forecast from Duck to Hatteras village, with gusts up to 49 mph forecast for Ocracoke Island.

Coastal flooding risk will be greatest for soundside locations on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands Tuesday into Tuesday night, and rough surf could result in minor erosion and overwash along the oceanside as well, with seas up to 14 feet across Atlantic coastal waters.

Portions of N.C. Highway 12 already had some standing water due to the heavy rains as of Monday night, and motorists are urged to use caution. Dare County Emergency Management is also reminding residents and visitors to make necessary preparations by securing outdoor furniture and other loose, lightweight objects before the onset of strong winds.

Visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather forecast information covering Eastern NC, and visit the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov for information on the tropics.

The Island Free Press will continue to monitor this system and will post updates as soon as they are available.