Saturday cold front will bring strong winds, potential coastal flooding to the Outer Banks

Confidence is increasing that a cold front on Saturday will bring a range of severe weather impacts, including strong winds, large surf and beach erosion, and minor coastal flooding, per a Friday morning update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office.

Minor coastal flooding with 1-3 feet of inundation above ground level is possible along the Pamlico Sound from Rodanthe north, while ocean overwash is forecast for Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island south of Cape Hatteras.

Large and dangerous surf with wave heights of 10-12 feet is expected on Saturday and Saturday night, with dangerous conditions for all mariners. A Gale Warning is in effect from 2:00 p.m. Friday until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday for all Hatteras and Ocracoke island waters.

Strong winds, gusting to 45-50 mph along the coast, could blow around loose/unsecured objects and cause some tree damage and a few isolated power outages. A few very fast-moving storms could bring 50-60+ mph wind gusts, resulting in more locally extensive wind damage.

The strongest winds and greatest threat for severe storms will occur during the daytime Saturday, but coastal impacts will continue into Saturday night.

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/.