Subtropical Storm Melissa in Pictures…WITH SLIDE SHOW

Island Free Press photographer Don Bowers captured these images of Avon and Buxton on Friday, which saw some of the highest water levels during the days-long storm that affected the Outer Banks this week. Suptropical Storm Melissa brought multiple periods of oceanside flooding and overwash to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands over the past several days, and flooding is expected to continue on Saturday, especially in the hours before and after high tide. The next high tide is at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night.

NCDOT reported that crews are continuing to work to reopen N.C. Highway 12 from Rodanthe to the Oregon Inlet Bridge. It is hoped that the roadway will temporarily reopen to traffic by Saturday afternoon. Flooding was reported throughout Hatteras Island with Saturday morning’s high tide, with overwash reported in north Hatteras, north Buxton, Avon, and Rodanthe.

The Island Free Press will continue to post updates as soon as they are available.