High wings, heavy rains, and possible coastal flooding forecast for this weekend

A slow-moving, developing low pressure system is forecast to come ashore into the Carolinas on Saturday or Sunday, bringing heavy rains, strong northeasterly winds, and possible coastal flooding per an update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office.

Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are expected Friday night into Saturday night and additional rainfall is expected Sunday and Memorial Day. The latest forecast guidance suggests total rainfall amounts of 2-4” inches through Monday, with locally higher amounts possible.

Strong northeast winds with gusts up to 45-50 mph are currently expected from late Friday into Saturday along the coast. A Wind Advisory will likely be issued later today for Eastern Carteret County, and Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands.

This system will bring the potential for several coastal threats Friday into Saturday, including minor coastal flooding (ocean and soundside), localized ocean overwash north of Cape Lookout, rough surf, and an elevated risk of rip currents for the beaches.

The main coastal flood concerns will be oceanside areas north of Cape Lookout, and soundside areas adjacent to the southern Pamlico Sound, Neuse, Bay, Pamlico, and Pungo Rivers.

A Coastal Flood Advisory and High Surf Advisory will likely be issued later today or early Friday.

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/.