Heavy Rains, Flash Flooding are Main Concerns with Weekend Storm

A coastal storm system is forecast to impact the Outer Banks area bringing heavy rains, severe weather, and the potential for flash flooding starting on Friday afternoon, per the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City Office.

Approximately 2.5 inches of rain is expected for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands starting Friday afternoon through Sunday, with ponding on roads and low-lying areas. The additional rain on top of already saturated ground could possibly lead to flash flooding, and a Flash Flood Watch has been issued for all of Eastern North Carolina.

In addition, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands could see isolated strong to severe storms Friday night into early Saturday morning, with damaging wind gusts or an isolated tornado possible.

This is the second storm within a week to impact the Outer Banks, as a Sunday / Monday storm brought maximum wind gusts of 60-70 mph on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands on Sunday night, and up to 4.1 inches of rain, (which was recorded in Frisco), over a 48 hour period.
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/.