Coastal flooding possible until early next week
Abnormally high tides peaking today and Saturday may produce coastal flooding that lingers into early next week, per a Friday afternoon update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office.
Minor to locally moderate coastal flooding is expected for oceanside areas on Hatteras and Ocrcoke Islands, potentially impacting N.C. Highway 12.
1-2 feet of flooding is possible along the oceanside, and localized ocean overwash is expected at known vulnerable spots along the Outer Banks, including the north end of Ocracoke Island, the north end of Buxton, and the Pea Island Visitor Center.
High Tides around 11 a.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. Sunday will likely have the highest impacts, per the NWS, although coastal flooding issues may persist until Monday. Minor flooding is also possible along the soundside, with up to one foot of inundation above ground level possible.
Moderate ocean overwash was reported on northern Ocracoke Island at high tide on Friday morning, however, N.C. Highway 12 remains open and passable, and the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is operating as scheduled.
“There will be water and sand on the road [on northern Ocracoke Island] so please slow down and drive carefully,” stated the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in a Friday update. “Crews will continue to monitor high tide conditions throughout the weekend.”
N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island is clear as of Friday afternoon, with small patches of standing water due to recent rains.
A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday.
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.
