Storm warning issued as NC’s Outer Banks brace for floods, waves topping 10 feet
Travel warnings have been issued through the week for North Carolina’s Outer Banks, including a threat of breaking waves topping 10 feet and gusts near 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
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The volatile weather is due to a “large and slow moving” storm in the Mid-Atlantic that is intensifying as drifts north toward New England, forecasters say.
A coastal flood watch will be effect from Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening for much of the Outer Banks, with 2 to 3 feet of “inundation” possible along shorelines, forecasters say.
“Flooding may extend inland from the waterfront, threatening some homes and businesses. Some roads and low-lying property including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes adjacent to the waterfront will experience shallow flooding,” the NWS reported Tuesday.
“Vulnerable areas along Highway 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Island are especially at risk for inundation from the oceanside.”
The impact will be prolonged due to the “meandering” nature of the storm, officials said. The heaviest wind and rain is expected Thursday into Friday, with rain totals exceeding three inches in some areas, the NWS says.
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore issued a warning Tuesday, telling visitors to stay out of the Atlantic Ocean through Friday, and to avoid beaches in northern Rodanthe, due to the risk of homes falling into the ocean. Thirty-two houses in the park have collapsed into the Atlantic since 2020.
Swells up to 16 feet will lead to “breaking wave heights of over 10 feet for beaches from Duck to Cape Lookout,” the NWS says.
“Not only will this create dangerous surf conditions, but this will also present a risk of beach erosion,” forecasters say. “Large battering waves may last into the weekend even as winds diminish.”
Travelers should expect standing saltwater on roadways, especially through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the National Park Service says.
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