Flooding a concern with 4-6 inches of rain forecast for the Outer Banks through Thursday morning

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 10 p.m. on Wednesday as a low pressure system moves through the coastal North Carolina area, bringing 4-6 inches of rainfall to the Outer Banks, per an update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office.

“Flash Flooding will be a concern with substantial rainfall amounts on already saturated grounds along and east of Highway 17,” stated the NWS in a Wednesday morning update. “If you encounter a flooded road, #TurnAroundDontDrown.”

With the recent heavy rainfall, these new downpours could exacerbate flooding in low-lying areas throughout the coastal N.C. region, especially in areas that are already inundated with water.

Standing water was reported on multiple stretches of N.C. Highway 12 on Wednesday morning, with conditions expected to worsen throughout the day. Travel should be avoided if possible, and drivers are advised to slow down and watch for flooded roads.

All Dare County Schools are implementing an early dismissal schedule on Wednesday due to the recently increased rainfall estimates. Cape Hatteras Elementary School will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. while Cape Hatteras Secondary School will be dismissed at noon.

A record amount of rainfall was recorded on Monday along the Outer Banks, according to SamWalkerOBXNews.com, with 3.75 inches of rain recorded at Cape Hatteras on Monday, breaking the previous record for March 4 of 2.47 inches, which was set in 2016.

No soundside or oceanside flooding is anticipated at this time, and all flooding concerns are solely related to heavy rains.

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/.