N.C. Highway 12 Temporarily Closes in Rodanthe Due to Ocean Overwash

October 10, 2019 | Local News | By: Joy Crist

S-Curves section of N.C. 12 north of Rodanthe on Thursday night. Photo by The Artistic Lens

N.C. Highway 12 temporarily closed near Blue Sea Road in Rodanthe on Thursday night due to oceanside flooding that accompanied Thursday evening’s high tide. It was reported that roughly eight cars had gotten stuck in the sand and saltwater near the S-Curves north of Rodanthe as of 8:00 p.m., and that efforts were underway to remove the vehicles.

As of 9:00 p.m., traffic was fully stopped on N.C. Highway 12 on both sides of the Blue Sea Road area of Rodanthe. Authorities are reportedly hoping to have the highway open by 11:30 p.m.

Flooding was also reported on N.C. Highway 12 in north Buxton as of Thursday evening.

Periods of overwash and beach erosion are expected to continue over the next several days, especially around high tide, and north of Cape Hatteras.

Thursday evening’s high tide was around 6:45 p.m. at Oregon Inlet, and high tide on Friday is at approximately 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The ocean overwash is due to a large low pressure system that is lingering off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, beach erosion and ocean overwash are expected to continue along the Outer Banks into early this weekend, with the most significant impacts expected along the ocean side north of Cape Hatteras.

Seas will run between 10 to 14 feet just offshore from the Outer Banks north of Cape Hatteras, and a high surf advisory has been posted until Saturday morning for breaking waves of 6 to 9 feet onshore.

Strong NNW winds of 15-25 mph with gusts of 30-35 mph are forecast for Friday, and winds will diminish by Saturday.

Persistent northerly winds over the next few days could also result in minor coastal flooding for locations adjacent to the Southern Pamlico Sound and lower Neuse River.

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/.