Coastal Flood Watch and High Wind Watch now in effect for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
Click here for the Saturday, December 16, update
The National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City, N.C. office has issued a Coastal Flood Watch for all areas of the Outer Banks, and a High Wind Watch for Hatteras Island and Ocraoke Island.
The Coastal Flood Watch is in effect from the morning of Sunday, December 17 until the afternoon of Monday, December 18. The High Wind Watch is in effect from the late morning of Sunday, December 17, and remains in effect through late Sunday night.
The Coastal Flood Watch lays out the potential for ocean and soundside flooding, with 2-4 feet of above-ground level inundation possible.
The High Wind Watch lays out potential for southeast winds of 30-40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph on Hatteras Island. The National Weather Service indicates that as forecast confidence increases, additional wind headlines may be needed for other areas of Dare County.
In addition to coastal flooding driven by the high winds, the National Weather Service forecast also includes periods of heavy rain, as well as large, dangerous surf and beach erosion for all areas of the Outer Banks.
With conditions forecast to begin on the morning of Sunday, December 17, and to worsen quickly after midday, significant overwash should be expected, potentially impacting vulnerable sections of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island, as well as soundside roads from Hatteras to Duck.
These conditions may make travel difficult/unsafe—especially overnight on Sunday, December 17, and into Monday, December 18, as the wind direction switches from the southeast to the southwest, increasing the risk of soundside flooding of vulnerable roads.
Residents and visitors at oceanfront locations where there is no protective dune should be prepared to protect property and relocate before structures become surrounded by ocean water. Those who are located on the soundfront could see rapidly rising water levels as the wind shifts during the early morning hours of Monday, December 18.
Actions to protect property should be completed as early as possible but well before sunset on Sunday, December 17. Protective actions to consider include:
- moving vehicles away from the shoreline
- stowing outdoor property (including holiday decorations)
- moving personal possessions off the ground in areas that routinely flood
Be Prepared:
To receive National Weather Service alerts, create an OBX Alerts user profile at www.OBXAlerts.com and select the National Weather Service watch and warning lists or download the FEMA mobile app and select “Dare, NC” as your primary location.
For updates regarding road conditions, please visit DriveNC.gov and follow North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on their Facebook page.
To sign up to receive alerts if water levels in your area begin to rise due to storm surge, visit www.FIMAN.NC.gov and select the flood gauge(s) located in the waterway you’d like to monitor in real-time.
