UPDATE: From IFP webmaster … Although she’s marooned in Frisco, Irene’s finding ways to get the stories out …

As dawn was breaking this Sunday morning, the high tide, driven by Hurricane Sandy’s huge waves, was flattening dunes and sending sand and water on Highway 12 on both Hatteras and Ocracoke.

And, then the assault began on the backside of the islands.  By daylight, Hatteras and Ocracoke villages were underwater, soon to be followed by Frisco.  In the afternoon’s waning light, soundside storm surge started in Buxton and Avon.

All of this, and, as of 5 p.m., the monster storm named Sandy, part tropical and part northeaster, was still 270 miles southeast of Buxton.

According to the National Weather Service office in Buxton, we have another day of tropical storm conditions to endure – winds forecast to be sustained at 40 to 50 mph again with gusts to 70.  Tomorrow night, winds are still predicted to be 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55.

The winds and heavy seas will keep the ocean overwash coming and the sound storm surge up in the villages for another day or two.

Here is the summary of what we know from today:

Hurricane Sandy has certainly been a challenge to residents and visitors to Hatteras and Ocracoke.  There have been no evacuations and Highway 12 was open yesterday, so new visitors checked into rental houses.

As the huge hybrid storm continues its slow trek northeast and then northwest into the coast somewhere around New Jersey late tomorrow, we will continue to see wind, rain, heavy seas, rip currents, and coastal flooding on the islands.

NCDOT has equipment on northern and southern Hatteras and on Ocracoke and crews work around the clock when they can to try to clear the highway. However, it could still be a few days until the surge stops inundating the highway and there can be a true assessment of the damage to the roadbed.

Previous stories about Hurricane Sandy