N.C. Highway 12 Closed between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet

2:00 UPDATE: N.C. Highway 12 has reopened between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet, per a 1:45 p.m. update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The highway is also open on Ocracoke Island and northern Buxton. Travelers are advised to drive with care, as there are still areas of light sand and standing water on the roadway.

9:30 a.m. Update: N.C. Highway 12 is temporarily closed on northern Ocracoke Island, and northern Buxton is currently impassable, due to ocean overwash. 

N.C. Highway 12 is closed between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet as of Tuesday morning, due to worsening conditions at the dune breach in the Mirlo Beach area, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

The road will reopen once NCDOT crews have had a chance to assess and clear the roadway, after Tuesday morning’s high tide cycle has passed. The Island Free Press will post updates as soon as possible, and the public can also view https://drivenc.gov/ for real-time updates.

Ocean overwash was also reported in northern Buxton with Tuesday morning’s high tide, and some standing water remains on the roadway in other locations, such as Hatteras village, Frisco, and north Avon, due to soundside flooding that occurred on Monday.

Though conditions are expected to improve on Tuesday, minor coastal flooding impacts may continue this morning across the Crystal Coast, Downeast Carteret, and soundside Ocracoke. Around 1-2 feet of inundation is possible at high tide this morning for Ocracoke Island, which is roughly 9 a.m. Flooding of very low-lying roads and areas is probable, though soundside flooding is not expected to be as bad as yesterday.

An 86 mph wind gust was recorded at Oregon Inlet on Monday, per the National Weather Service, while Avon recorded a peak wind gust of 66 mph and Hatteras/Frisco recorded a peak wind gust of 56 mph. Winds will continue to diminish on Tuesday as the coastal low pressure system moves away from the Outer Banks.

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/.