By Joy Crist, Island Free Press, and Sam Walker
Coastal flooding and hazardous ocean conditions are expected to peak on Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday as long-period swells from hurricanes Humberto and Imelda continue to impact the Outer Banks.
N.C. Highway 12 remains closed on northern Ocracoke Island, with Hatteras-Ocracoke and Pamlico Sound ferry service suspended.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation in a Facebook post said crews will be out working today to clear the roadway and fortify dunes and they anticipate ocean overwash with the high tide this afternoon at 3:15.
So far, no roadway damage has been reported.
Ferry service to the island on the Pamlico Sound routes has also been suspended due to strong winds.
Minor soundside flooding was reported on Tuesday afternoon in Ocracoke Village.
N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island remained open and passable following Wednesday’s 2:30 a.m. high tide, with minimal additional overwash. Roughly six inches of standing water remains north of Hatteras Village, with sand on other stretches of the roadway.
“For now, travel on NC 12 on Hatteras Island should be avoided several hours before and after the upcoming high tides and please give way to the Road Pros as they work to keep NC 12 safe,” said Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson.
The National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office reports that confidence remains high regarding a “long-duration and impactful swell event,” with the greatest flooding and overwash threats coinciding with the Wednesday afternoon high tide.
Marine, land, and coastal hazard alerts remain in effect across the region, including a Coastal Flood Warning from Oregon Inlet to Cape Lookout through Friday afternoon, and Coastal Flood Advisories for areas north of Oregon Inlet and along the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers through Thursday
A Wind Advisory has also been expanded northward to include the Northern Outer Banks. Gale Warnings remain in place for most adjacent coastal waters.
Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents are expected to continue through the end of the week.
Five unoccupied homes collapsed in Buxton on Tuesday afternoon with a sixth house collapsed late Tuesday night. The beach there is closed due to piles of dangerous debris.
“The NPS has the beach area closed to keep people safe,” said Pearson. “Everyone should avoid the area due to truly hazardous conditions being generated as the debris moves with the ocean.”
The greatest risk for oceanside impacts remains along vulnerable stretches of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, where moderate coastal flooding of 2 to 3 feet above ground level is possible during the peak tides.
On the northern beaches, minor coastal flooding of 1 to 2 feet above ground level is possible, but there have been no reports of overwash in the towns north of Oregon Inlet.
There are a few weak spots in South Nags Head and at First Street in Kill Devil Hills that saw some water through the dunes during Hurricane Erin last month and could experience it with this afternoon’s high tide.
Access to the four-wheel drive area north of Corolla will be difficult to impossible at times, especially several hours before and after high tide today.
Soundside areas along the southern Pamlico Sound and connected rivers may also experience minor flooding due to persistent northeast winds.