N.C. 12 reopens on northern Ocracoke Island at 12:30 p.m. Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry service resumes
N.C. Highway 12 will reopen on northern Ocracoke Island at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and ferry service will resume at 12:30 p.m. from both Ocracoke and Hatteras terminals, per an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
“Keep in mind that there is still some water and sand on the roadway, so drive with EXTREME caution,” stated the NCDOT in a noon update. “Also, be aware of the possibility that the road may need to be closed again tonight if the 8:30 p.m. high tide causes significant overwash.”
NCDOT closed N.C. Highway 12 between the ferry terminal and the pony pens at 8:45 p.m. on Monday night due to repeated cycles of ocean overwash.
N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island is also open and passable, with some minor standing water from recent rains, and patches of sand on the roadway. While the storm has departed the Outer Banks area, a high risk of rip currents remains in effect for all beaches on Wednesday.
- For information on the local forecast, visit weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
- For updates regarding road conditions, visit DriveNC.gov and follow the North Carolina Department of Transportation and NCDOT NC 12 on Facebook. The Dare County Sheriff’s Office also shares local road condition updates on its Facebook page.
- To get notified of ferry delays or cancellations, sign up for text and/or email alerts via the N.C. Ferry System’s FINS system: www.ncdot.gov/fins.
- For rip current information and other beach hazards, sign up for text alerts from Dare County, ocean rescue agencies, and the National Weather Service by texting “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295.
