Minor ocean overwash reported ahead of Monday morning’s high tide; N.C. 12 remains closed on Ocracoke
Minor ocean overwash was reported in northern Buxton ahead of Monday morning’s high tide at approximately 8:20 a.m., although North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) personnel were on site to clear the roadway.
N.C. Highway 12 remains open and passable on Hatteras Island as of 7:30 a.m. on Monday, however, blowing sand and standing water remain on the roadway in several locations, particularly on Pea Island. Travelers should use caution and watch for NCDOT vehicles as they work to clear the road.
The highway remains closed on northern Ocracoke Island from the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry terminal to the NPS Pony Pens due to multiple cycles of ocean overwash, including additional flooding reported on Monday morning.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) stated in a Sunday afternoon update that they hope to reopen N.C. Highway 12, (and resume ferry service), sometime on Monday.
The Ocracoke-Swan Quarter and Ocracoke-Cedar ferries resumed operations on Monday morning.
Large breaking waves of 10-15 feet are expected in the surf zone for all Outer Banks beaches, and oceanside flooding of 2-4 feet above ground level remains possible through Tuesday morning.
Wave heights, especially north of Hatteras Island, will begin to increase later in the day, creating the potential for further ocean overwash and coastal flooding, especially in areas with compromised dune structures.
Ocean overwash that affects N.C. Highway 12 is most likely during high tide, and the next high tide is around 8:35 p.m. on Mondy.
A Coastal Flood Warning, Gale Warning, and High Surf Advisory remain in effect for the Outer Banks. The High Surf Advisory will be in effect until Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
- 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.
