Severe weather and heavy rain possible on Saturday; Coastal Flood Advisory issued for the Outer Banks

A frontal system impacting the Outer Banks this weekend is capable of bringing strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, strong wind gusts, and sound-side coastal flooding, per an update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office.

Strong westerly winds with gusts of 30-40 mph will result in elevated water levels for sound-side Outer Banks north of Ocracoke Inlet Sunday night into Monday morning.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms capable of producing a brief tornado and damaging wind gusts are possible Saturday afternoon and evening. Locally heavy rain could result in minor flooding due to the recent inundation of rainfall over the past week.

This is a low probability, moderate/high impact severe event, meaning there are many uncertainties with this weather system. The severe weather threat today is conditional, but severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes are possible if ingredients come together.

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands from 2 p.m. this afternoon to 10 p.m. tonight.

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/.