Minimal soundside flooding reported, winds to slowly subside after cold front crosses Greater Outer Banks
Only minimal soundside flooding was reported along the Outer Banks this morning, after winds associated with a strong cold front peaked in the early morning hours and have since started to subside.
A water level rise of around six inches in 30 minutes was reported in the Pamlico Sound behind the Fessenden Center in Buxton around 4:30 a.m. when sustained winds were at their peak, according to the National Weather Service.
All area roads remain open, although drivers should be alert of standing water in some of the usual trouble spots, and blown sand along N.C. 12 on Pea Island. Ferry service on Ocracoke Island has resumed.
Because of the combination of the wind forecast and the high water threat, Dare County Schools operated on a two-hour delay on Monday.
The highest wind gust reported in the region was at Jennette’s Pier of 61 mph at 3:08 a.m. Other top wind gusts were 59 mph at Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station at 3:36 a.m., 56 mph in Avon at 3:47 a.m., 55 mph in Waves at 3:53 a.m., 52 mph at Cape Hatteras High School at 4:13 a.m.
Numerous other stations on the Outer Banks and mainland recorded wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph as winds shifted from south to northwest when the front passed through.
All Gale Warnings have been replaced with Small Craft Advisories at least through midday, while the Coastal Flood Advisories and Wind Advisories have expired or have been canceled, the weather service reports.
A High Surf Advisory remains in effect from Cape Lookout to Cape Hatteras through 9 a.m. Clearing skies will arrive from west to east this morning, with temps well below normal today despite sunny skies this afternoon.
The shower and thunderstorm activity since Sunday morning brought some much-needed rain to the entire northeast corner of the state which is considered at least abnormally dry, with Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties in moderate drought condition, according to the latest report from the NC Drought Monitor.
A Tornado Watch was issued Sunday afternoon across eastern N.C. A single EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 110 mph touched down in Garner around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, causing damage to trees and homes along a 1.5 mile long path in the Raleigh suburb.
