Heavy rains, gusty winds will likely arrive Thursday
A unique weather pattern to the east of Hurricane Ian will bring moderate impacts to eastern North Carolina this weekend, including heavy rains and possible coastal flooding, per a Wednesday morning update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City.
A prolonged period of strong northeast winds is expected Thursday through Saturday morning, with gusts up to 45 mph along Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
Tropical moisture interacting with the front offshore will bring a prolonged stretch of heavy rain to the area, with the potential for flash flooding along eastern N.C.
Currently, 4-6” inches of rain is forecast for the Outer Banks, and the heaviest rains will occur Friday through Sunday.
The strong northeast winds could also produce minor coastal flooding along the oceanside. Strong gale force winds are possible along the coastal waters beginning Thursday, and Gale Warnings and Watches have been issued. Dangerous seas up to 6-13 feet are expected through Sunday.
Hurricane Ian will make landfall today in central Florida, and will continue to move northeastward through Thursday night. Ian will then turn to the north and make landfall along the Georgia/South Carolina border before moving inland through the Carolinas. No direct impacts are expected to the Outer Banks, as Ian is forecast to track west of the N.C. coastline.
For more information on the local forecast, visit www.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/.
