N.C. Highway 12 remains closed Wednesday morning; Additional ocean overwash possible this afternoon

N.C. Highway 12 remains closed between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe on Wednesday morning, per an 8:00 a.m. update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

“The overnight high tide was not kind to our efforts to reopen the road, as more overwash and sand covers the road at the Pea Island Visitor Center and the S-Curves,” stated the NCDOT in the update. “Our crews were out at first light, trying to clear the road and rebuild protective dunes and berms in advance of the next high tide this afternoon. Right now, it’s too early to tell if we will be able to reopen to traffic today.”

Other spots along Hatteras Island remain passable, with some overwash and sand in several locations after Wednesday morning’s 4:00 a.m. high tide. Standing saltwater was reported in Avon near Ocean View Drive, northern Buxton, and Rodanthe. Drive with extreme caution if travel is required today.

Additional overwash is possible on Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday, starting with the next high tide at roughly 4:30 p.m.

Ferry service for all Ocracoke Island routes remains suspended.

The strong low pressure system that has impacted the area for the last few days will make its closest approach to the coast tonight before starting to sink southward. Several coastal hazards including ocean overwash, coastal flooding, strong winds, and dangerous surf conditions persist, with maximum wind gusts of 45-50 mph forecasted for Wednesday. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect through early Thursday morning.

Along the soundside, 1-3 feet of flooding is still possible for low-lying areas until early Thursday, particularly for Ocracoke Island and southern Hatteras Island.

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/.