Flooding on N.C. Highway 12 diminishes after Saturday morning ocean overwash

N.C. Highway 12 was primarily clear as of 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon after a round of ocean overwash inundated the road during Saturday morning’s high tide.

Small patches of saltwater remained on N.C. Highway 12 in central Avon, however, only sand remained on Pea Island and in northern Buxton.

The areas affected by ocean overwash on Saturday morning all have minimal dunes due to a mid-November nor’easter that eroded the beaches over the course of multiple high tide cycles.

Per Carl Barnes, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office, there is a low chance of additional ocean overwash with tonight’s high tide at around 10:00 p.m., as well as tomorrow morning’s high tide at around 10:30 a.m.

“It’s hard to say because of the dunes, but at this time, we are not expecting overwash issues tomorrow,” said Barnes.

Per the National Weather Service forecast, the northerly long-period swell will continue to gradually diminish through tonight, while southerly winds and associated windswell may begin to impact the Outer Banks beginning on Sunday. A Gale Watch for the Pamlico Sound waters is in effect from Sunday afternoon through late Sunday Night.

N.C. Highway 12 remains open throughout Hatteras Island. Motorists are advised to continue to drive slowly and use caution, as saltwater can severely damage vehicles.

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/.