A persistent onshore wind along the Outer Banks is forecast to continue into early next week, with moderate ocean overwash likely with high tide the rest of the weekend.
The National Weather Service revised their forecast early Sunday to reflect the latest trends expected with this morning’s high tide around 10 a.m.
A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect through Monday at 2 p.m. and High Surf Advisory through Tuesday at 8 a.m. for the east-facing beaches from the state line to Cape Hatteras.
North winds of 20 to 30 mph are forecast to continue, which will create surf of 7 to 10 feet. That will combine with a King Tide, when the moon is full and at one of the closest points of its orbit around the Earth, to cause water level rises of 2 to 3 feet above ground.
A similar set-up caused minor ocean overwash at high tide on Wednesday, along with soundside flooding in Hatteras and Ocracoke villages.
While the ocean overwash has been limited to a few spots at high tide on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, standing salt water from the Pamlico Sound was reported on a number of roads and in yards in Hatteras and Ocracoke.
The greatest water levels are expected with the high tide Sunday around 10 a.m., with elevated levels again around 10 p.m., and then on Monday around 10:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Areas with poor dune structures, such as along N.C. 12 on Pea Island between Oregon Inlet and the Jug Handle Bridge, along the Rodanthe oceanfront and in Buxton just north of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse could experience the most overwash.
Travel along the four-wheel drive beaches north of Corolla will also be difficult around high tide, as well as for beach driving along Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The dangerous large shore breaking waves and rip currents has prompted officials to keep No Swimming flags flying from the state line to Cape Hatteras.
Forecasts show winds continuing to blow from the northeast through at least Wednesday, which will likely keep ocean conditions too dangerous for swimming.
Stay with the WOBX Weather Center for the latest updates.
National Weather Service seven-day forecasts for:
LIVE data from flood gauges at key locations throughout North Carolina, including automated email and text alerts, visit https://fiman.nc.gov/
Sign up for emergency alerts from Dare County and its municipalities. Beach safety and rip current information can be found at LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.
Currituck County provides beach safety and emergency updates for Corolla and the mainland via Currituck Alert.
The NCDOT Ferry Division provides real-time text or email alerts from their routes via the Ferry Information Notification System (FINS) at www.ncdot.gov/fins. System-wide route status updates will also be posted on the Ferry Division’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
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/.
LIVE video from Kitty Hawk, courtesy Twiddy & Co.:
Click to watch LIVE video from Corolla, courtesy Currituck County/WebCOOS
