From our news services
The rain from the recent low pressure system was over by Saturday afternoon and Ocracoke village got some minor flooding. There was even a beautiful red sky sunset as the winds had diminished.
It may have seemed that the storm was over, but Saturday night the wind direction shifted northerly and resumed with high gusts up to 40 mph. The spring-weather 60s temperatures of Saturday have dropped to the high 40s today (Sunday, March 24).
All Ocracoke ferry service remains suspended until deemed to be safe to resume.
The National Weather Service issued a statement Sunday morning that the high surf advisory between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras has been extended through Monday morning.
The large, long-period swell will continue to linger into the middle of next week, resulting in persistent high surf conditions especially for the beaches north of Cape Hatteras that have created dangerous marine conditions.
The NC Department of Transportation said Sunday morning (March 24) that NC 12 remains open and passable on Hatteras and Pea Islands, with sand and ponding rainwater on the road, but the north end of Ocracoke remains closed.
NCDOT NC12 reports today (Sunday, March 24) that, “unfortunately, due to continued strong winds and overwash, we will NOT be reopening NC12 on Ocracoke Island today. We will continue working to reopen the highway at some point Monday.”
Ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke remains suspended.
