Significant Ocean Overwash Accompanying Sunday Morning’s High Tide in Avon, Buxton, Rodanthe

November 17, 2019 | Local News

Central Avon, 30 minutes before Sunday’s high tide. Photo by Orville Scarborough

Significant ocean overwash on N.C. Highway 12 was reported just before Sunday morning’s high tide at 10:30 a.m. in Avon, north Buxton, and northern Rodanthe, and overwash was reportedly starting to occur on southern Hatteras Island in Hatteras village. Deep water was reported on N.C. Highway 12 from the Ace Hardware in Avon to north of the Avon Pier, and oceanside flooding was occurring from the northern borders of Buxton to Old Lighthouse Road. Motorists should use caution and avoid travel if possible.

Looking north from Mirlo Beach in Rodanthe. Photo by Don Bowers.

NCDOT reported at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning that N.C. Highway 12 is still closed between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe, and the highway will only be reopened when state transportation officials determine it is safe to do so.

NCDOT says no structural damage is apparent to N.C. Highway 12 at this time, but part of the road is covered with sand and overwash. Transportation officials will continue to assess the road, and NCDOT crews are currently using front-end loaders and other equipment to remove sand from the highway.

Oceanside flooding will continue to impact N.C. Highway 12 throughout the day. Per the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City office, the most significant overwash during the storm will likely be this morning. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 1:00 a.m. on Monday, and 2 to 4 ft. of storm surge inundation continues to be forecast for oceanside Hatteras Island. Rough surf and beach erosion are expected throughout the day.

Ocean View Drive in Avon, 30 minutes before Sunday’s high tide. Photo by Orville Scarborough

Winds will start to diminish today, however, some gusts of 40-45 mph will still be possible through midday Sunday.

Offshore seas will remain in the 17 to 21 ft. range through today, and as the strong low pressure system moves into the New England region Monday and Monday night, seas will remain elevated, (at or above 10 feet), before finally subsiding on Tuesday. Confidence is decreasing that soundside flooding will impact southern Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, and heavy rains will mostly remain offshore.

For information about current road conditions from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), visit drivenc.gov or dial 511. When dialing 511 on weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., weekends from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., callers speak directly with an operator who can answer traffic and travel-related questions. Overnight and during emergencies, travelers should go to DriveNC.gov for the latest travel information. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

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/.