UPDATED: Hatteras breaks 82 year old record for rainfall, dangerous surf conditions continue along Outer Banks

UPDATED: Hatteras breaks 82 year old record for rainfall, dangerous surf conditions continue along Outer Banks

October 1st, 2022

UPDATED, Saturday 7 a.m.
Other than a stray shower this morning, the rain and wind have departed the Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina. For now.

All roads are open, but drivers should be mindful of areas with standing water throughout the region and sand that may have been blown onto N.C. 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke. Ferry service is also resuming normal schedules today.

Cape Hatteras set a new record for daily rainfall total for September 30 with 5.92 inches recorded at Billy Mitchell Field in Frisco. That topped the old mark set in 1940 of 2.56 inches that was recorded at the historic U.S. Weather Bureau office in Hatteras village.

Overall, more than six inches of rain fell across much of eastern North Carolina from the combination of Hurricane Ian that made landfall on the South Carolina coast Friday and a frontal boundary stalled over the region. Final storm totals are still being collected by the National Weather Service.

Top wind gusts from the storm:

A possible waterspout tried to form over Hatteras village on Friday that caused minor damage to the ferry terminal building. Click here to see the video at The Island Free Press.

Hazardous surf conditions will continue with a high risk of rip currents and pounding shore break.

Latest image from Hampton Inn at Pine Island in Corolla, courtesy SECOORA:

LIVE video from Kitty Hawk, courtesy Twiddy & Co.:

LIVE video from Rodanthe, courtesy RodanthePierLLC.com:

Coastal waters on the ocean and soundside will be too dangerous for swimming at least for the next couple of days, due to the large surf and also the potential for contamination from flood waters.

While the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian will make its way into western Virginia today, temperatures will be in the upper 70s with clearing skies by afternoon.

But the respite will be short-lived, as another coastal low is forecast to bring onshore winds and shower activity starting late Sunday into Monday.

National Weather Service seven-day forecasts for:

Updated surf zone forecasts from the National Weather Service are posted at https://www.weather.gov/beach/midatlantic.

For more information on rip currents, visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com and SafeCorolla.com.

For the latest images from NCDOT traffic cameras on the Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina, visit: https://wobx.com/2022/06/01/outer-banks-northeastern-north-carolina-traffic-cameras/.

Sign up for emergency alerts from Dare County and its municipalities.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Friday 9 p.m.
The rain and wind is starting to ease across the Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina, as the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian makes its way further inland tonight.

A sizeable “dry slot” has formed on the east side of the center of circulation, while the heavier precipitation has transitioned farther inland. Overnight, conditions will continue to improve with periods of moderate to heavy rain still possible.

Travel remains less than ideal on the roads this evening, due to rainwater standing in low-lying areas that normally flood from heavy precipitation.

Sand blown on to N.C. 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke and along the Beach Road has also been common, and drivers should be aware of possible “white out” conditions from blowing sand.

On the oceanside, surf conditions remain hazardous and another period of minor to moderate overwash is expected with high tide around 11:30 p.m.

Coastal waters will likely be too dangerous for swimming at least for the next couple of days, due to the large surf and also the potential for contamination from flood waters.

Unlike areas along the central coast of North Carolina, the soundside of the Outer Banks has mostly avoided any issues with flooding as winds have been blowing out of the north over the last three days.

The forecast change in wind direction and speed will let the water to return gradually and no flooding is expected. That will also allow the N.C. Ferry Division to resume operations.

Friday 6 p.m.
The rain continues to fall and the wind continues to blow from the combination of now Post-Tropical Cyclone Ian and a cold front that is expanding across the Carolinas.

Wind gusts have reached near 50 mph, with sustained winds of 30-plus through the day.

Standing water from rain has been the main travel issues on roads throughout the region. No major problems from overwash were reported from the morning high tide.

Friday 7 a.m.: The Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina started seeing the rain overnight, while the wind stayed strong and the waves big for a second straight day as Hurricane Ian nears the South Carolina coast.

Power was knocked out this morning in Frisco, Hatteras village and Ocracoke, likely due to sustained winds that have remained above 25 mph for over the last 24 hours.

Other than blown sand and rain water, the N.C. Department of Transportation has reported no issues along N.C. 12 or other roads this morning.

Highest wind gusts reported to National Weather Service as of Friday, 7:45 a.m.:

A Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Watch and Flood Watch remain in effect for most of eastern North Carolina, including the Outer Banks from Duck southward, and inland sections below the Albemarle Sound. A Wind Advisory is in effect north of the Albemarle Sound into southeastern Virginia.

Minor-to-moderate coastal flooding is expected to last through Saturday, including overwash and beach erosion on the oceanfront and high water along the western shorelines of the sounds and into the coastal rivers of eastern North Carolina.

Up to 8 inches of rainfall is forecast across much of the area, with most of it expected today.

A high risk of rip currents is forecast, and No Swimming flags will be flying along the beaches again on Friday.

“Residents and visitors on the north end of Rodanthe should be ready to protect property from ocean wash especially at high tide,” Pearson said. “Those able to reach visitors in this area please get this message to them.”

The National Park Service said everyone should avoid through the weekend the two-mile stretch of beach between the north end of Rodanthe and South Shore Drive, due to the presence of several vulnerable houses that may be damaged by rough surf and strong winds.

Campgrounds in Cape Hatteras National Seashore remain open but camping conditions are not expected to be favorable over the next several days. Visitors with reservations have been notified of the inclement weather. If the weather forecast worsens, the Park Service said one or more campgrounds may need to be closed until conditions improve.

Visitors to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site are advised to avoid walking through the park’s trails during strong winds due to the potential for tree and tree branch collapses.

Hurricane Ian forecast track from the National Hurricane Center

Ian’s wind and rain field continues to expand as it interacts with a front to our south and strong high pressure over the Great Lakes.

That has created northeast-to-east winds of 25-to-30 mph, with gusts as high as 40, bringing the potential for 1-to-3 feet of above ground oceanfront inundation over multiple tide cycles through Saturday. Ocean overwash is possible especially in areas that experienced a loss of dunes over the past few weeks.

High tide on Friday is around 11 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., and then around noon on Saturday and midnight Sunday.

The prolonged onshore wind will also make 1 to 2 feet of above ground inundation possible on soundside portions of Hatteras Island, while a surge of up to 4 feet is possible along the Pungo, Pamlico and Neuse rivers.

The long duration wind will make ocean conditions hazardous with potential for 10-to-12 foot breaking waves in the surf zone and numerous rip currents.

The tropical moisture pushing into the area will bring periods of heavy rain with 2 to 8 inches of rain possible along with the possibility for tornado activity Friday into the weekend.

All roads remain open, and N.C. Department of Transportation crews have been working to shore up dunes at the trouble spots on Pea Island, between Frisco and Hatteras village and on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

The deteriorating conditions led the N.C. Department of Transportation to suspend all ferry service on Friday., and the Ocracoke Express passenger ended its season two days early.

Travelers are urged to check on their route’s status via the Twitter feeds found on ncferry.org under the heading ‘Current Conditions’, or to phone their route’s terminal office before arriving.

There will be no residential or commercial trash collection on Hatteras Island on Friday. Residents are advised to secure their trash cans during the storm in order to avoid overturned cans and blowing trash. Normal trash collection is anticipated to resume on Monday.

The Dare County Youth Center in Kill Devil Hills, the Fessenden Center in Buxton and the Lions Club Center in Manteo have canceled all outdoor activities for Thursday, September 29. Each facility will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 30. All practices scheduled for Friday, September 30 have also been canceled.

On Saturday, October 1, all soccer and football games have been canceled. Coaches will be notified when the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department has determined a makeup schedule.

Hyde County Government offices are closed today, and a number of local businesses and restaurants have decided not to open or have delayed hours on Friday as a precaution.

The 150th anniversary celebration of the Bodie Island Lighthouse first-lighting has been postponed to a later date. Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition’s annual Dementia/Alzheimer’s Walk has been postponed to October 15.

Governor Roy Cooper issued a State of Emergency for all of North Carolina that waives the size and weight requirements for vehicles engaged in relief efforts before, during and after the severe weather, including power restoration and debris removal, as well as the transportation of goods like food, fuel, and medical supplies.

The order also helps North Carolina’s agricultural sector by temporarily suspending weighing of vehicles used to transport livestock, poultry or crops ready to be harvested. The Council of State concurred with the waiver of transportation regulations.

“Hurricane Ian reminds us how unpredictable these storms can be and North Carolinians should be prepared when it reaches our state,” Governor Cooper said Thursday.

In addition, North Carolina’s price gouging law against overcharging in a state of emergency is now in effect statewide. And Governor Cooper also authorized the activation of about 80 members of the North Carolina National Guard to assist as needed.

National Weather Service seven-day forecasts for:

Updated surf zone forecasts from the National Weather Service are posted at https://www.weather.gov/beach/midatlantic.

For more information on rip currents, visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com and SafeCorolla.com.

For the latest images from NCDOT traffic cameras on the Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina, visit: https://wobx.com/2022/06/01/outer-banks-northeastern-north-carolina-traffic-cameras/.

Sign up for emergency alerts from Dare County and its municipalities.

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