Outer Banks will have a break from the rain this weekend; N.C. Highway 12 remains passable

Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands will finally have a multiple-day break from rainfall this weekend, although periods of heavy rain will continue on Friday with an additional 1-1.5 inches expected, per a recent update from the National Weather Service.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for a large portion of eastern North Carolina until Friday evening, including the Outer Banks and mainland Dare and Hyde counties.

As of Friday at noon, N.C. Highway 12 was passable throughout, although there remained some large puddles and standing water due to the inundation of rain over the past week, and particularly in the Tri-villages and northern Hatteras Island. In addition, NCDOT crews will be out this week between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to reinforce the dunes at Mirlo Beach, and travelers are advised to proceed with caution, and to allow for extra travel time as needed, as delays are possible.

Several ORV ramps continue to be impacted by standing water and erosion as well, including the Inside Road in between Ramp 44 and South Beach in Buxton, and Ramp 32 north of Avon, which are both closed. See the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s Alerts and Conditions page for more information on the status of beach accesses.

The rain will come to an end later on Friday, but cooler weather will linger throughout the weekend. Per the NWS Newport / Morehead City office, another round of showers will arrive on Monday with much warmer weather to follow, and temperatures may rise to the high 50s or low 60s by the middle of next week.

For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx and enter your location in the top-left search bar, or visit the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.