The National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office recorded maximum wind gusts of 70 mph in Ocracoke, 64 mph in Rodanthe, and roughly 60 mph in Avon and Frisco in the past 12 hours as a coastal storm continues to affect the islands.
Ocean overwash, accompanied with piles of foam, began to affect N.C. Highway 12 at several locations, including near the Pea Island Visitors Center and in northern Buxton where the ocean breached the highway at about 9 a.m. Use caution, and expect to drive through patches of saltwater. The next high tide is at around 9:30 a.m. and additional overwash is expected.
All Hatteras and Ocracoke Island ferry routes are currently closed due to the storm conditions.
High winds, rain, and ocean overwash is expected to continue through Monday before tapering off on Tuesday.
For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
