After closing overnight due to severe ocean overwash, N.C. Highway 12 has reopened north of Hatteras Village as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 18, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
N.C. Highway 12 remains closed on northern Ocracoke Island.
“As you can see from the photo, there is still deep, standing water in the area… 12 [inches] in some areas,” stated NCDOT in a Monday afternoon update. “So, drive with extreme caution, and if you have a low clearance vehicle, wait until tomorrow if at all possible.
“Unfortunately, the section of Highway 12 closed on the north end of Ocracoke will NOT be reopening today. We hope to reopen there sometime during the day tomorrow.”
Ocracoke-mainland ferry operations have resumed, however, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry remains suspended.
The December 17-18 coastal storm brought a range of impacts to the Outer Banks, including strong winds, ocean overwash, and some soundside flooding, which included minor soundside inundation of N.C. Highway 12 in Salvo on Monday morning. Travelers are advised to use caution when driving through areas of remaining standing water, as saltwater can heavily damage vehicles.
Peak wind gusts of 67 mph were reported in Avon and Ocracoke, as well as approximately 1.5 inches of total rainfall on Hatteras Island, per an update from the National Weather Service.
A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, while a High Surf Advisory is in effect until midnight, and a Small Craft Advisory is in effect until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
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/.
