Flash Flood Warning in effect for the Outer Banks; All Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operations suspended

August 31, 2023 | Local News | 1

Pea Island south of the Basnight Bridge at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday. NCDOT image.

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for the Outer Banks until 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, in addition to an ongoing Coastal Flood Warning and Tropical Storm Warning, as Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to pass just off the coast of North Carolina today.

Between 2 and 6 inches of rain have fallen on the Outer Banks as of Thursday morning and additional rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are possible in the warning area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly throughout the warning area, which includes Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

North of Hatteras Village at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday. NCDOT image.

Per a 6:00 a.m. update from the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, issues with road conditions along N.C. Highway 12 on Thursday morning includes the following:

Oregon Inlet: There is approximately 2 inches of rainwater across both lanes of N.C. 12 just north of the Oregon Inlet Campground.
Pea Island: From Pea Island to the Marc Basnight Bridge, N.C. 12 is clear, but there is limited visibility due to blowing sand.
Buxton: Both directions of N.C. 12 are covered in sand, the first half mile north of Buxton.
Hatteras: Most of Hatteras Village has accumulated rainwater on N.C. 12. There is approximately 8 inches of water on the road in the area of Village Marina and 5 to 10 inches of water in the area of Sandy Bay.

N.C. Highway 12 is open but standing rainwater, blowing sand and strong winds can be expected throughout the roadway, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Additional ocean overwash is possible with Thursday’s high tide at approximately 8:00 a.m.

All Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry operations have been suspended due to Idalia as of Thursday morning. Passengers can receive real-time text or email alerts from their preferred routes by signing up for the Ferry Information Notification System (FINS) at www.ncdot.gov/fins. System-wide route status updates will also be posted on the Ferry Division’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Rainfall and ocean hazards remain the leading threats from Idalia, with 5-10 inches of rain forecast for Wednesday through Friday. Within the heaviest bands of rain, isolated totals of up to 15” of rain are also possible.

As for storm surge, oceanside inundation (2-3 feet above ground level) of low-lying areas is forecast, and there may also be 1-3 feet of soundside inundation from Buxton to Hatteras Village. The public is advised to protect vehicles and property parked or stored in areas that may flood.

Increasing winds should peak at 35-45 mph with gusts of up to 55 mph on Thursday, August 31, and winds will diminish slowly on Friday, September 1.

Remember that the forecast for Hurricane Idalia will continue to be refined, and the public can check for updates on the NWS Newport/Morehead office’s website at weather.gov/mhx/tropical.