High Surf Advisory issued for the Outer Banks; Localized ocean overwash possible
A High Surf Advisory has been issued for the Outer Banks from Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. until Friday at 8:00 a.m. Large breaking waves of 6 to 10 feet are expected in the surf zone, which could result in localized beach erosion and ocean overwash.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported that minor ocean overwash occurred with Wednesday morning’s high tide, and that some standing water and sand remains on the roadway.
“With a high surf advisory in place beginning tonight, [overwash is] likely over the next several days,” stated NCDOT in an update. “Please SLOW DOWN when driving through the area.”
Per an update from SamWalkerOBXNews.com, a persistent onshore flow, along with a distant offshore storm, will continue to create rough surf conditions on Wednesday and Thursday along the east-facing beaches from the Virginia state line to Cape Point in Buxton.
That could lead to ocean overwash along N.C. Highway 12 at areas with compromised dunes or berms, including and especially northern Ocracoke Island between the Hatteras ferry terminal and the National Park Service Pony Pens.
Although overwash on Ocracoke Island has been minimal since a coastal storm impacted Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands last week, a northern several-mile stretch of the roadway has been routinely flooded over the past month, ever since a protective berm was breached in early February.
Ocean overwash is most likely around the times of high tide, and the next high tides for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands are approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 6:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Minimal soundside water level rises are expected over the next several days at this time.
- For more information on the local weather 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/.
- 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. Users will get notified of any schedule changes directly from the terminal, and can unsubscribe at any time.
- 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.
