While track is uncertain, Outer Banks should expect heavy rains, dangerous rip currents from Hurricane Debby
After making landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, as a Category 1 storm on Monday morning, Hurricane Debby is expected to move slowly across northern Florida and into southern Georgia today and tonight, and then move very slowly across or just offshore the Southeastern U.S. through the rest of this week.
According to a Monday morning update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office, there remains considerable uncertainty in the track and impacts beyond Monday due to weak steering currents in the upper atmosphere.
The greatest impacts across Eastern N.C. at this time remains heavy rainfall bringing the threat of flash flooding. Dangerous rip currents will also be a threat throughout the week into this weekend due to onshore winds and increasing swell energy.
Current rainfall forecasts are 5 to 10 inches across the Outer Banks with local amounts of up to 15 inches of rain across southern portions of Eastern N.C. over the next 7 days.
Impacts are expected to last multiple days depending on the final track and whether or not the storm slows down or stalls.
A list of local Outer Banks resources for information is below.
- For alerts and notifications from Dare County on a customizable list of events or emergencies, (including hurricane evacuations and updates), visit https://www.darenc.gov/departments/emergency-management/emergency-alerts.
- For rip current information and other beach hazards, sign up for text alerts from Dare County, ocean rescue agencies, and the National Weather Service by texting “OBXBeachConditions” to 77295.
- For real-time flood maps that show water level rises throughout Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, (as well as optional alerts), visit the NC Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network.
- 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 up-to-date information on tropical conditions, follow the NWS at gov/mhx/tropical or visit the National Hurricane Center’s website. Just pay attention to all info, and not just the cone graphics.
- To sign up for the Special Needs Registry for hurricane assistance through Dare County, visit https://www.darenc.gov/departments/health-human-services/special-medical-needs-registry or call 252-475-5599.
- For Dare County hurricane information, including reentry procedures, visit https://www.darenc.gov/departments/emergency-management/hurricanes.
- 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.
- For up-to-the-minute local information on hurricanes, as they happen, listen to Radio Hatteras at 101.5 (Avon through Hatteras) and 99.9 (Tri-villages), or visit them online at https://www.radiohatteras.org/.
- For online news coverage on active storms, continue to check the Island Free Press.
