Minor soundside flooding reported; N.C. 12 remains closed on Ocracoke and north of Hatteras Village

Minor soundside flooding was reported on Monday morning at several locations throughout Hatteras Island, including Avon Village, Hatteras Village, and the Tri-villages.

Soundside flooding was impacting N.C. Highway 12 in Salvo as of Monday at 10:00 a.m. and travelers are advised to use caution and drive slowly as saltwater can heavily damage vehicles.

Severe ocean overwash closed two sections of N.C. Highway 12 overnight at the following locations:

• N.C. Highway 12 in the Sandy Bay area north of Hatteras Village is closed due to multiple dune breaches. The closure begins at Sandpiper Lane and Elizabeth Drive (SR1272).
• N.C. Highway 12 on northern Ocracoke between the Pony Pens and the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry docks is closed.
• All other sections of N.C. Highway 12 are open, but blowing sand, standing rainwater, and other issues have been reported in multiple spots.

Per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), crews are working to clear the roadways and are hoping to reopen these sections by Monday afternoon, barring additional overwash.

5-10 ft. breaking surf will continue to cause beach erosion and oceanside flooding through Monday, resulting in dangerous driving conditions along portions of N.C. Highway 12. Additional impacts and highway closures may occur, and the next high tide is approximately 11:30 a.m.

All three Ocracoke Island ferry routes remain suspended as of Monday morning.

Winds will continue to diminish throughout the day as the low pressure system moves away from the Outer Banks area. Wind gusts peaked on Sunday night, with gusts of 67 mph reported in Avon and Ocracoke, per an update from the National Weather Service.

For more information:

To receive National Weather Service alerts, create an OBX Alerts user profile at www.OBXAlerts.com and select the National Weather Service watch and warning lists or download the FEMA mobile app and select “Dare, NC” as your primary location.

For updates regarding road conditions, please visit DriveNC.gov and follow North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on their Facebook page.

To sign up to receive alerts if water levels in your area begin to rise due to storm surge, visit www.FIMAN.NC.gov and select the flood gauge(s) located in the waterway you’d like to monitor in real-time.