Reposted courtesy of the Island Free Press; Jan. 4, 2022.
By Joy Crist
N.C. Highway 12 is temporarily closed on northern Ocracoke Island, according to a 9 a.m., update today (Tuesday) from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT.)
“Due to ocean overwash, NC 12 is now also CLOSED on Ocracoke Island between the NPS Pony Pen and the ferry terminal,” said the NCDOT update. “Our crews will clear and reopen the area after this high tide cycle has passed.”
N.C. Highway 12 is also currently impassable in northern Buxton, and is closed between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet as of Tuesday morning, due to worsening conditions at the dune breach in the Mirlo Beach area. The Island Free Press will post updates as soon as possible, and the public can also view https://drivenc.gov/ for real-time updates.
Some standing water also remains on the roadway in other locations, such as Hatteras village, Frisco and north Avon, due to soundside flooding that occurred on Monday.
Though conditions are expected to improve on Tuesday, minor coastal flooding impacts may continue this morning across the Crystal Coast, Downeast Carteret and soundside Ocracoke. Around 1 to 2 feet of inundation is possible at high tide this morning for Ocracoke Island, which is roughly 9 a.m. Flooding of very low-lying roads and areas is probable, though soundside flooding is not expected to be as bad as yesterday.
An 86-mph wind gust was recorded at Oregon Inlet on Monday, per the National Weather Service, while Avon recorded a peak wind gust of 66 mph and Hatteras/Frisco recorded a peak wind gust of 56 mph. Winds will continue to diminish on Tuesday as the coastal low pressure system moves away from the Outer Banks.
For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
What will happen to the Outer Banks when overwashes become even more regular?
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