Strong winds, minor coastal flooding possible on Sunday
A strong cold front will move through Eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks on Sunday, Feb. 16, bringing the potential for ocean overwash and soundside flooding, according to an update from the National Weather Service.
Minor ocean overwash is possible for vulnerable areas of N.C. Highway 12, and especially on Ocracoke Island. Ocracoke Island ferry service may be impacted on Sunday due to overwash and/or high winds.
Very minor soundside water level rises are also possible along the Outer Banks, particularly north of Hatteras.
Strong non-thunderstorm winds gusting as high as 40-50 mph are forecast for Sunday, causing significant marine hazards, and strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are also expected, with damaging winds and periods of very heavy rains.
A list of local Outer Banks resources for additional information is as follows:
- 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.
