Minor coastal flooding, strong winds forecast with approaching cold front

A strong cold front will move through Eastern N.C. Thursday night into Friday, and will bring severe weather which could include damaging wind gusts and minor coastal flooding, per a Wednesday morning update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office.

Minor soundside coastal flooding is possible all along the Outer Banks, including Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, from Thursday night into Friday night. Inundation of up to 2 ft. above ground level is currently forecast.

Strong winds ahead of the cold front will develop Thursday night and will continue behind the cold front on Friday. The strongest winds will be along the coast, where power outages are possible. Maximum wind gusts up to 48 mph along the Outer Banks are expected, and offshore seas of 15-20 feet are also forecast during the weather event.

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/.