Don’t approach the sand dunes on Outer Banks, NC county warns. It could be fatal

The nor’easter that pounded North Carolina’s Outer Banks has turned the majestic sand dunes into death traps, coastal experts say.

On Monday, Currituck County officials revealed the storm had eroded miles of dunes along the barrier islands, making them unstable.

“While walking on sand dunes is strictly prohibited at all times, visitors are further advised not to walk, sit, or stand near or directly beneath dune faces,” county officials wrote in a Sept. 28 news release.

“Loss of sand along the base has created an increased risk of sudden dune collapse.”

The beloved sand dunes have a history of turning deadly on the Outer Banks, including a 2023 incident that killed a 17-year-old boy visiting Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The Virginia teen dug into the side of a dune, and it collapsed and smothered him, the National Park Service reported.

Coastal officials continue to assess damage caused by the storm, which hit beaches with 50 mph gusts and 16 foot waves, forecasters said.

Among the most prominent sites damaged by the storm is the Avon Fishing Pier, which now has a gap in it, photos show. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is in talks with the pier’s lessee “to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine next steps.”

“Some public beach access boardwalks have been buried or damaged from wave action,” the National Park Service said in a news release.

“A significant amount of private beach stairs and boardwalk decking, septic system parts, and wooden and metal debris from houses are littering the beach (on Hatteras Island).”

Rodanthe Beach remains closed from northern boundary of Rodanthe to the pier in Rodanthe due to “the potential for poor water quality associated with damaged septic systems,” park officials said.

This story was originally published September 29, 2026 at 5:58 AM with the headline “Don’t approach the sand dunes on Outer Banks, NC county warns. It could be fatal.”