Coastal Flood Advisory, High Surf Advisory in effect through Sunday

A Coastal Flood Advisory and High Surf Advisory have been issued for the Outer Banks through Sunday at noon, according to an update from the National Weather Service.

For the Coastal Flood Advisory, (which is in effect starting 6:00 a.m. Thursday), up to two feet of inundation above ground level is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.

For the High Surf Advisory, (which is in effect starting 6:00 a.m. Friday), large breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet are expected in the surf zone, along with dangerous rip currents.

Beach erosion and ocean overwash may affect vulnerable areas along the Outer Banks, and specifically areas where overwash has been a repeated issue, (such as northern Ocracoke Island, northern Buxton, Rodanthe, and Pea Island.)

The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is running on an amended schedule due to weather conditions as of Thursday, with ferries departing from the Hatteras and Ocracoke terminals approximately every hour, (similar to the late fall schedule that starts on November 5.)

A list of local Outer Banks resources for additional information is below.

• For information on the local forecast, visit weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
• For updates regarding road conditions, visit DriveNC.gov and follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on its Facebook page.
• To get notified of ferry delays or cancellations, sign up for text and/or email alerts via the N.C. Ferry System’s FINS system: www.ncdot.gov/fins.
• For rip current information and other beach hazards, sign up for text alerts from Dare County, ocean rescue agencies, and the National Weather Service by texting “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295.