Coastal Flood Warning in effect; Ocean overwash possible through the weekend

A Coastal Flood Warning from Cape Hatteras to Duck is in effect from 11:00 a.m. on Friday until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, per a recent update from the National Weather Service (NWS). A strong cold front will push through the Outer Banks region today, and high pressure will build south over the area this weekend into early next week, while low pressure slowly churns off of the southeast coast.

Along the oceanside, there is the potential for 2-4 feet of water above normally dry ground, making ocean overwash likely, and impacts to N.C. Highway 12 possible. The most vulnerable areas for overwash are the northeast-facing beaches from Cape Hatteras to the northern Outer Banks, although overwash is also possible from Frisco to Ocracoke Island.

The most likely timing of ocean overwash is around high tide on Friday and Saturday, and the next high tide is approximately noon on Friday. As of 11:00 a.m. on Friday, there was no overwash reported on N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island or Ocracoke Island.

Soundside impacts should also be expected from Buxton to Hatteras Village with 1-2 feet of water above normally dry ground. Coastal flood impacts may linger into Saturday.

6 to 14-foot waves in the surf zone through Sunday will lead to dangerous surf and beach erosion, and wind gusts up to 55 mph are also possible throughout the weekend as well.  A High Surf Advisory and Wind Advisory are also in effect as of midday Friday, and will continue through the weekend.

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/.