Tropical Depression #9 could bring impacts to the Outer Banks next week

Newly formed Tropical Depression (TD) 9 is moving slowly west through the central Caribbean Sea, and impacts to eastern North Carolina from TD 9 are possible late next week, per an update from the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office.

TD 9 is forecast to turn north through the western Caribbean Sea early next week and strengthen into a hurricane as it moves into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Any impacts to the Outer Banks from TD 9 will be highly dependent on the eventual track, which will become clearer in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands remain under a Coastal Flood Warning until 8:00 p.m. on Friday due to distant Hurricane Fiona moving north along the East Coast.

The swell will peak today, with Friday evening’s 6:30 high tide bringing the threat of more extensive ocean overwash, and possible impacts to N.C. Highway 12. Oceanside inundation of 2 to 3 feet above ground level is possible for vulnerable beachfront roads and properties, and primary areas of concern for flooding include Pea Island, Rodanthe, north of Hatteras Village, and northern Ocracoke Island.

As of 12:30 p.m. on Friday, N.C. Highway 12 remained open and accessible throughout the Outer Banks.

Ocean conditions remain hazardous and will keep the ocean unsafe for swimming into the weekend. A high risk of rip currents is in effect for all Outer Banks beaches.

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/.