N.C. Highway 12 remains closed; NCDOT hopes to open the highway on Thursday

While N.C. Highway 12 remained closed between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe as of 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) stated in an update that they hope to open the roadway in the late morning or early afternoon.

“The overnight high tide did cause some overwash and blown sand at Mirlo Beach and the Pea Island Visitor Center, although not as severe as the previous few tides,” stated the NCDOT. “Our crews are working hard this morning to clear the roadway and rebuild protective dunes/berms. At this point, we are aiming to open the highway somewhere in the late morning/early afternoon timeframe.”

Other spots along Hatteras Island remain passable, with some overwash and sand in several locations. Standing water and/or sand was reported in Avon near Ocean View Drive, northern Buxton, and Rodanthe. Drive with extreme caution if travel is required.

Ferry service for all Ocracoke Island routes remains suspended as of Thursday morning.

The strong low pressure system that has impacted the Outer Banks area for the last few days will continue to dissipate on Thursday. Several coastal hazards including ocean overwash, coastal flooding, strong winds, and dangerous surf conditions remain a threat through Thursday evening, and additional overwash is possible with Thursday afternoon’s high tide.

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/.