Overwash reported on Ocracoke Island but N.C. 12 is open; Coastal flooding possible through Tuesday
Moderate ocean overwash was reported on the northern end of Ocracoke Island and the side streets of Rodanthe after Sunday’s noon high tide, however, N.C. Highway 12 is open and passable per a Sunday afternoon update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
“Ocracoke Island remains open and passable with extreme caution and reduced speed. There are 4-7 inches of water in places, mostly on the edge of the southbound lane. Our crews are on the scene trying to mitigate where the water is deepest,” stated the 1:00 p.m. NCDOT update. “Elsewhere, no issues on NC 12 from Pea Island to Hatteras, but secondary roads in Rodanthe are experiencing overwash and deep sand in spots.”
A Coastal Flood Advisory issued for the Outer Banks has been extended until Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., according to an update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office.
Abnormally high tides will produce additional rounds of coastal flooding, with 1-2 feet of above-ground-level flooding expected for oceanside areas of the Outer Banks from Ocracoke to Corolla.
High tides around 1 p.m. on Monday and 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday will have the highest impacts, according to the NWS.
Tide levels will slowly fall this week, but building swell from a distant offshore low will continue to produce elevated water levels, especially north of Cape Hatteras in Buxton. Flooding impacts may be enhanced in areas with recently compromised dune structures.
On the soundside, up to one foot of flooding is also possible through Tuesday throughout the Outer Banks.
Two homes in the Rodanthe area also fell on Friday, leading to debris washing ashore as far south as Avon. CHNS advised visitors to avoid the beach in the northern Rodanthe area in a Saturday morning press release due to dangerous debris in the water and on the shoreline. Click here for more information on the home collapses and ongoing cleanup efforts.
Localized ocean overwash should continue to be expected at known vulnerable spots during the next few high tide cycles, including the north end of Ocracoke Island, the north end of Buxton, and near the Pea Island Visitor Center.
The next high tide is around 12:15 a.m. on Monday
A list of local Outer Banks resources for additional information is below.
- 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 local water level forecasts from the NWS, visit https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/mhx
- 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.
