Tuesday, April 7, 2026
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Extreme cold, strong winds heading our way this weekend

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From our news services

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Morehead City has issued a weather alert: a strong Arctic front will cross the area tonight, bringing dangerously cold conditions Saturday and Sunday.

Strong winds will develop Saturday morning and persist through Saturday night, producing extremely cold wind chill values—ranging from sub-zero to 5 degrees—overnight into Sunday morning. These frigid temperatures could cause frozen pipes.

Travelers should be prepared for possible suspension of ferry service due to the high winds.

Minor soundside flooding of 1 to 2 feet is also possible along Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands from Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

Primary voting to begin soon; voting registration deadline today

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By Peter Vankevich

The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation for the March Primary Election is at 5 p.m. today (Feb. 6.)

For more information, see “Voter Registration Deadline Approaching for March Primary.”

Early voting on Ocracoke will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on two days only: Thursday, Feb. 19, and Friday, Feb. 20, at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy.

Early voting on the mainland will take place at the Hyde County Board of Elections Office in the Public Safety Building, 1223 Main St., Swan Quarter. It runs from Feb. 12, through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.

For the March 3 primary, Hyde County offers five ballot types: Democratic, Republican, and nonpartisan ballots for voters 18 and older, plus separate Democratic and Republican ballots for 17-year-olds who will turn 18 before the November general election.

Unaffiliated voters may choose a Democratic ballot, a Republican ballot, or a nonpartisan ballot. Other political parties have no primary contests.

The nonpartisan ballot will only have the referendum asking voter approval for the establishment of the Hyde County Local Sales and Use Tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all other state and local sales and use taxes.

The youth ballots for 17-year-olds do not include the Hyde County sales tax referendum, which appears only on the adult ballots.

“Since the referendum will be decided in the primary, they cannot vote for that,” Elections Director Viola Williams explained.

This primary will decide which candidates will represent the Republican and Democrat parties in the Nov. 3 mid-term election.

For North Carolina, the field is crowded with candidates wishing to replace retiring Thom Tillis for the U.S. Senate seat.

Democratic candidates are Daryl Farrow, Justin E. Dues, Roy Cooper, Robert Colo, Marcus W. Williams and Orrick Quick.

Republican candidates are Margot Dupre, Richard Dansie, Donald M. (Don) Brown, Michael Whatley, Elizabeth A. Temple, Michele Morrow and Thomas Johnson.

Republican voters are advised not to vote for U.S. Senate candidate Margot Dupre. The State Board of Elections has disqualified her ruling that she is not a properly registered voter or a qualified primary candidate in North Carolina.

For U.S. House of Representatives District 1, there are no Democratic candidates on the ballot because none are competing for this seat, but on the Republican ballot are five candidates: Laurie Buckhout, Asa Buck, Ashley-Nicole Russell, Eric Rouse and Bobby Hanig.

For information on all of the candidates, visit Ballotpedia.

The Hyde County Board of Commissioners at their Nov. 3 meeting passed a resolution to place the proposed sales tax increase on the March 3 ballot. Currently in Hyde County, there is a 6.75% sales tax.

However, this tax would not be on everything.

North Carolina General Statute 105 Article 46 allows counties to levy this tax and under which they can exempt some items.

Hyde County would exempt “unprepared foods” (groceries), gas and prescription medications.

If approved, the sales tax rate on all other items would go to 7%, up from the current rate of 6.75%. Hyde County also has a 5% occupancy tax on all lodging sales.

It is unusual in North Carolina for a referendum to appear only on a primary ballot and not on the November general ballot.

But this year, Hyde joins five other counties, Gates, Granville, Henderson, Martin, and Wayne, in placing a local sales tax referendum on the March primary ballot, according to Gerry Cohen, former director of bill drafting at the North Carolina General Assembly (1981–2014) and current member of the Wake County Board of Elections.

In recent memory, Cohen noted that in the March 2024 primary, the Village of Bald Head Island in Brunswick County had two bond referenda on the March 5 ballot; both passed with more than 60% approval.

In the 2022 primary, Alleghany County was the only county with a similar measure and that also passed.

Williams said Hyde County wanted to hold the referendum as soon as possible.

“They considered having an election just for that but the state said they couldn’t and suggested putting it on the ballot in March,” she said.

Hyde County Manager Kris Noble said the timing is tied to how quickly the sales tax increase could take effect if approved.

“If we waited for November, the start date would be delayed,” she said. “We wanted to have the referendum on a November 2025 ballot but could not, as there were no other elections. We have talked about this extensively and repeatedly at our monthly Board meetings.”

Noble said that, if passed, the additional revenue would help cover costs driven by visitors, such as public safety (sheriff’s deputies, EMS staff, and emergency management staff) and solid waste.

“Considering these two categories, coupled with appropriations to our school system, make up over 75% of the total county budget, and that the first two aforementioned categories only show signs of increasing given the current state of the economy, it will be critical to find other revenue sources to offset the pressures that will be put on the property taxpayer,” she added.

Other important election dates are as follows:

  • Feb. 12, 2026: In-person early voting begins.
  • Feb. 17, 2026: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.)
  • Feb. 28, 2026: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
  • March 3, 2026: Primary Election Day.
  • March 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.)

Occupancy Tax Board seeks proposals for 2026-2027

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Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor at dusk. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

The Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board is preparing to award grants to Ocracoke nonprofits and has scheduled the 2026-2027 appropriations meeting for 6 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in the Ocracoke Community Center.

Request packets should be submitted no later than Friday, March 6. PLEASE SUBMIT SIX (6) COPIES OF YOUR REQUEST.

Packets can be dropped off at Ride the Wind Surf Shop, between 10am and 4pm daily. You can also mail your packet to Bob Chestnut, PO Box 700, Ocracoke, NC. 27960.

Information for submitting a grant request is as follows:

Mary Faye Wallace: 1936 to 2026

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Mary Faye Wallace

Mary Faye Jackson Wallace, 89, of Ocracoke, passed away Jan. 29, 2026, while receiving hospice care at Peak Resources in Nags Head. One of her dearest friends was sitting by her side, and her family is grateful she was surrounded by love in her final moments.

Born Aug. 15, 1936, in Pinetown, Beaufort County, she was a daughter of Leamon S. Jackson and Mildred Wadell Jackson.

Mary Faye attended Bath High School, graduating in 1954. In 1956, she married Allen Wayne Wallace. Together, they raised two sons and were beloved members of communities throughout Eastern North Carolina, from Plymouth to Manteo, and especially on Ocracoke Island.

Mary Faye was the widow of Wayne, her husband of 57 years.

She is survived by her sister, Donna Kay Jackson of Grimesland, Pitt County; her son Jeffrey Wallace, his children Brandon, Jessica and Savannah, and daughter-in-law Melissa; and her son Jeremy Wallace, his children Charlie, Mary Emma and Liam, and daughter-in-law Maureen.

Above all, she was “Ma,” a mother and grandmother who provided childhoods rooted in safety, comfort and deep love. Some of her grandchildren’s most cherished memories were shaped on Ocracoke Island, which always felt like a second home.

Summers on Ocracoke were especially dear to Ma. She would pack up her old Jeep with beach chairs, sandwiches and her famous lemonade, then meet up with family and friends and stay until the sun went down. It was never a question whether she wanted to go. Even as she grew older, she made sure she had her beach days — nothing stopping her from soaking in the sun and ocean air. She taught her grandchildren to enjoy the sea and the simple joy of being exactly where they belonged. While her shelves at home were lined with books, there was always one tucked into her beach bag. Family, friends and neighbors were drawn to her, and she treasured those beach conversations, her feet in the sand.

For Ma’s older grandchildren, days on Ocracoke were spent shelling, swimming, attending barbecues, shopping in town and roaming the island barefoot, growing up the way island kids do — surrounded by ocean air, simple pleasures and family love. She was known for driving along the beaches with her rescue dogs, sharing her big heart with every life she touched. Those beach drives, rescued dogs and unhurried island days became the foundation of memories her family will carry forever.

Ma’s younger grandchildren also grew up cherishing their Outer Banks and Ocracoke visits with her. With Little Debbie cakes at the ready, she always had a meal planned — from homemade chili to her famous clam bake — and always her special lemonade.

Ma and Pa devoted themselves to caring for their grandchildren. They attended as many sporting events as possible, serving as a true traveling cheering section no matter the weather. Ma was generous with her time, her love and her encouragement, and her warmth was a steady presence throughout their lives. Phone calls were frequent, often turning into playful rounds of phone tag to check in, her goodbyes usually preceded by, “Well, that’s all I know. Take care of each other.”

Her sense of humor never faltered. She was incredibly smart, clever and conscientious of those around her. Even in her final days, she met difficult moments with a smile and a gentle joke, bringing light and comfort to those around her.

Throughout her life, Mary Faye demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit, owning The Gray Goose gift shops in Plymouth and on Ocracoke, which she filled with coastal knickknacks that allowed others to bring home special memories from her favorite places. She regularly volunteered at the Outer Banks Hotline. An expert shopper, she will also be remembered fondly for braving Charlotte-area sales one year after Thanksgiving dinner while visiting Jeremy’s family.

Mary Faye never met a stranger, instead gathering friendships like shells. Her family is deeply grateful for the many kindnesses those friends shared with her, from check-in phone calls to dinner plates dropped off and evening visits on her porch. She embodied true North Carolina Southern charm and possessed a presence that felt familiar, comforting and unmistakably her own.

Ma’s kindness also made her a second mother to many. Friends from Jeffrey’s and Jeremy’s childhoods would still stop by over the years as adults to check on Mary Faye and introduce her to their own families. Fittingly, she collected lighthouses, reflecting who she was — a steady guide, a place of safety and a symbol of home. For her family, lighthouses will continue to stand as a reminder of her unwavering love.

Ocracoke will always carry her heart. Though her family grieves her loss, they take comfort in knowing she is reunited with Wayne, waiting for the rest of the family somewhere down the line. Her love, lessons and laughter live on in the generations she helped shape.

Arrangements are under the direction of Twiford Funeral Homes. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Roanoke Island Memorial Gardens. The family plans to celebrate her life later this summer on Ocracoke and will share details once finalized.

A special thank you to the nurses and team at Peak Resources and The Outer Banks Hospital, and to all the family, friends and neighbors who visited her and have reached out to share condolences and favorite memories.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her life are invited to make a donation to the Outer Banks Hotline. Donations may be made online at https://obhotline.org/how-to-help/donate/.

Ocracoke Access Alliance urges full funding of North Carolina Ferry System in FY 2027 budget

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A Pamlic Sound ferry leaves Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

Editor’s note: Justin LeBlanc will talk at the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association meeting about what the Ocracoke Access Alliance did and learned from their trip to the NC Legislature in Raleigh in January about Ferry Division funding and tolling. The meeting will be Monday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. in the Community Center.

From our news services

The Ocracoke Access Alliance has sent a letter to Gov. Josh Stein and North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson to fully fund the North Carolina Ferry Division’s Fiscal Year 2027 expansion budget request.

The letter emphasizes that the ferry system is a vital component of the state highway system and essential to coastal communities and regional economies.

The alliance stresses that full funding—particularly for recurring operations and maintenance and continued reduction of deferred maintenance—is critical to ensuring safe, reliable, and fully operational ferry service across eastern North Carolina.

“The North Carolina Ferry System is not a discretionary amenity,” Justin LeBlanc, executive director, said. “It is a core transportation asset that provides essential access to island and peninsula communities, supports economic activity, and ensures mobility for residents, workers, emergency responders and visitors. For many communities, ferries are the only practical and dependable connection to the rest of the state.”

In recent years, the Ferry Division has faced mounting challenges driven by rising fuel costs, increasing vessel maintenance demands, workforce recruitment and retention pressures, and growing service expectations.

These pressures have resulted in service reductions, delayed maintenance, and operational instability that directly affect residents, businesses, and local economies.

LeBlanc said that the North Carolina governor sends his request to the General Assembly, but what’s included in that budget is not released until after it’s transmitted.

Right now, the state is in fiscal year 2025-2027 biennial budget, for which the General Assembly still has not passed a budget.

North Carolina enters 2026 as the only state in the country without an enacted budget, according to NC Newsline.

Republican House and Senate leaders have been at an impasse since the summer of 2025, leaving town in October of last year without passing a new spending package. Key points of contention are how much to bump pay for state workers and teachers, whether to adjust the state’s planned income tax cuts and whether to fund a planned children’s hospital. 

Legislators are coming back for an administrative session this month, but there’s still no sign of progress toward a deal.

No votes are expected in the Senate until April, after the March 3 primary, LeBlanc said.

When lawmakers fail to pass a budget before July 1, the state operates on a continuation budget.

Agencies get the same level of funding as the previous year, but there are limitations: they don’t get the previous year’s one-time “non-recurring” funding, and their budgets are not adjusted for population increases, inflation or other sources of increased need.

In North Carolina, the state budget operates on a biennial basis, meaning the current budget covers two fiscal years beginning on July 1 2025, and ending on June 30, 2027, with an “adjustments budget” submitted by the governor midway.

LeBlanc said that Stein’s FY 2027 expansion budget request is intended to restore and sustain full operational and maintenance capacity—not to expand service beyond need, but to ensure the existing system functions as intended.

Fully funding the request would allow the Ferry Division to maintain vessels in a state of good repair, ensure adequate staffing for safe operations, provide predictable schedules essential for commerce and tourism, and protect prior state investments in vessels and terminal infrastructure, LeBlanc said.

“Failure to fully fund the request would perpetuate service instability and deferred maintenance, increasing long-term costs to the state while undermining public confidence in a critical transportation system,” he said.

For more information on the alliance visit www.ocracokeaccesalliance.org.

Ocracoke events Feb. 2 to 8–updated

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NC12 remains CLOSED on the north end of Ocracoke due to continued ocean overwash from this weekend’s nor’easter. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
This NCDOT photo shows the north end of Ocracoke at 6:55 am Feb. 2. NC12 remains CLOSED between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe ocean overwash continues from this weekend’s nor’easter. Overwash also is occurring at Buxton corner and on Rodanthe secondaries. Crews will be out working to clear today.

Because of ocean overwach at the north end, ferry service to Hatteras is suspended on Feb. 2 as are the long-route ferries across the Pamlico Sound.

Monday, Feb. 2:
Ocracoke Alive: Spanish/English Coffee hour, 8:15 to 9:15 am. Ocracoke Library. Then every Monday through March 23.

Ocracoke Alive: Envisioning the future of Ocracoke, the first of eight discussion-based, creative workshops about the island’s long-term future, with Hannah Aronson, a master of city planning student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will facilitate the sessions that will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 2, 9, 23, March 2, 9, 17 and 23, in the Deepwater Theater. Monday, Feb. 16, will be the OCBA meeting in which the Ocracoke Access Alliance will talk about their recent trip to state legislators in Raleigh to advocate for ferry funding and north end access.

Tuesday, Feb 3:
Ocracke School basketball games switched to Wednesday.

Wednesday, Feb. 4:
Ocracoke Alive: Yoga in Spanish with Sarah Shellow, 8:30 to 9:30 am. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracaoke School basketball: Varsity girls vs. Hatteras @ 5 pm; followed by varsity boys. Games will be broadcast on WOVV, 90.1 FM on the island and wovv.org.

Ocracoke Alive: The North Carolina premier of “The Best Day Ever,” a documentary by islander Ben Knight and a second documentary, “Mirasol.” 6:30 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Thursday, Feb. 5:
Ocracoke Alive: 9:30 am – 10:30am. Ukulele/Guitar with Lou Castro. Deepwater Theater.

Hyde County Commissioners meeting, 1 p.m. Livestreamed on Hyde County Publlic Information Facebook page. Agenda below.

Ocracoke Alive: Creative Writing ~ Poetry with Sarah Shellow (Session 2), 1 to 2:15 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Alive: Art: Gesture drawings/Proportions with Kitty Mitchell, 6 to 8 pm. Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) meeting, Those wanting to become a volunteer are welcome, fire house, 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy, 6 pm.

Ocracoke Decoy Carvers Guild meeting, 7 pm. Community Center.

Friday, Feb 6:
WOVV “What’s Happening on Ocracoke:” Host Peter Vankevich talks to OBX journalist Kip Tabb, 11:30 am, 90.1 FM on the island and wovv.org.

Amy Howard will teach the art of landscape felting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Deepwater Theater.

Ocracoke School basketball: varsity girls and boys travel to Hobgood Charter School.

Ocracoke Alive: Latino dance workshop 8 pm followed by a dance at 9 pm. Community Center.

Saturday, Feb. 7:
Ocracoke Alive: Landscape needle felting with Amy Howard. Maximum of 10. 1 to 3 pm. Deepwater Theater. Class may be full (supplies are limited) but those interested are invited to watch.

Sunday, Feb. 8:
Church services:
Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 11 am
Ocracoke Life Saving Church, 11 am
Stella Maris Chapel: Sunday Mass time at 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Go to Masstimes.org and type in the zip code 27960 but refresh your browser for it to work properly.

Ocracoke Alive: Basic CPR with Hyde County EMS. 2 to 5 pm.

Ocracoke Alive: Games/Puzzles for Families & All Ages, 3 to 5 pm. Ocracoke Library.

Ocracoke Alive: Cooking enchiladas Oaxaquenos with Jesús. 5 to 7 pm. OUMC Rec Hall.

Ocracoke spared heavy snow but remains in cold grip

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The Ocracoke Lighthouse and Double Keepers Quarters on Sunday, Feb. 1. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

Editor’s note: This story was updated Feb. 2 with snow accumulation totals and Hyde County services information.

Unlike other areas of the state, Ocracoke Island had to dig out of only a few inches of snow on Sunday (Feb. 1), but below-freezing temperatures kept the island in winter mode.

Village streets were mostly snow covered in the morning and island NCDOT worker Shanon Eiben spent the day scraping off the snow.

Shanon Eiben spends Sunday scraping Ocracoke roads. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

Following a night of gusting winds Saturday, the island lost power late Sunday morning. Tideland Electric Membership Cooperative crews quickly jumped onto fixing the outage, which was fully restored island-wide by 3:30 p.m. Tideland officials did not give a cause for the outage but it occurred on the island.

Hyde County issued the following snowfall information on Feb. 1:

  • Mainland Hyde: Townships including Swan Quarter, Engelhard, and Fairfield are reporting widespread accumulations of 12+ inches, with localized drifts much higher due to intense wind.
  • Ocracoke Island: Reliable reports show totals in the 4–6 inch range, accompanied by significant soundside and oceanside flooding that has covered portions of NC Highway 12.
  • County Offices: All Hyde County Government offices will be CLOSED on Monday, February 2, to allow for continued recovery and road-clearing efforts.
  • Board of Commissioners: The regular Hyde County Board of Commissioners meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, has been rescheduled to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5.
  • Solid Waste: Solid Waste sites remain closed until conditions allow for safe operation.

The National Weather Service forecasts cold weather to continue into Tuesday.

Ocracoke School will be closed on Monday and the Ocracoke Health Center and its pharmacy will be closed Monday and Tuesday .

High winds blew the snow off the beach. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer

Several weather warnings also remain in effect until Feb. 2, including a Winter Storm Warning, Coastal Flood Warning, High Wind Warning, High Surf Warning, and Extreme Cold Warning.

NC Highway 12 remains closed between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet due to hazardous conditions and on Ocracoke from the pony pens north, and all ferry operations to and from Ocracoke Island remain suspended.

The all-time record low of 13°F occurred on Feb. 20, 2015. On Jan. 24, 2003, nine inches of snow fell on the island and remained on the ground for five days.

Howard Street. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
The Island Inn Commons with a winter look. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Community Square in snow flurries, Jan. 31, 2026. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer

What are those weird rocks I found on the beach?

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What’s that rock amidst those shells? It looks like petrified sand.

Editor’s note: This story was first published in the August 2025 issue of the Ocracoke Observer.

Text and photos by Connie Leinbach

Ocracoke beach shelling is different from elsewhere along the East Coast.

When you walk along the beach you will see myriad bivalves and gastropods, sometimes in large clusters of whole shells and pieces called “shell hash.”

Among the shell detritus, you might see a hunk of coal (most likely from a sunken ship in the Graveyard of the Atlantic), or what looks like a river or landscaping stone, or what look like a hunk of petrified sand.

Someone once suggested that “petrified sand” was made from lightning striking the sand and melting it together.

Those items are called fulgurites, but the “petrified sand” specimens that can be found on the Ocracoke beach are not fulgurites.

Dr. Stanley Riggs explains the different ‘petrified sand’ rocks that can be found on the beach. This one is a mud stone.

They are locally called “marl” and are pieces of prehistory, according to coastal geologist Stanley Riggs, East Carolina Distinguished Research professor emeritus and author of “The Battle for the North Carolina Coast.”

Riggs visited Ocracoke with the Coastal Land Trust in the spring and graciously took time to answer questions about certain beach finds.

Some of them – the smooth ones — are “mud stones” and were created over thousands of years under pressure in the ocean.

“They probably go back 75,000 to 100,000 years,” he said while examining several specimens.

These “rocks” broke off from the “fine mud” off the edges of the capes.

If you look at the Carolina coast, you have several capes, he said, which differ from shorelines in the north.

This coquina shows where small sea creatures bored into the sand covering it.

“Every one of these capes has this kind of rock,” he said. “The reason these capes stick out in the ocean is that most of them have something underneath them and that something is this rock.”

These smoother specimens are probably calcareous mud.

In other specimens that look like coarse sand, he noted the presence of little holes made by clams boring into them and the imprints of sponges that lived on the top, which, over the many years, became bound together.

 These were not in the mud flats.

“These are coquinas,” he said, which differs from coquina clams one sees drilling down into the surf, and which the dictionary says is “a soft, whitish limestone formed of broken shells and corals cemented together.”

A crab burrow.

If you went out into the surf beyond the breakers and drill down, you’d get multiple layers of sand and muddy sand all packed together for tens if not hundreds of thousands of years, he said.

Gretchen Miller, a senior professor of geology at Wake Tech Community College, Raleigh, also looked at the specimens while visiting Ocracoke in the spring.

Upon examining the coquinas, she noted that the ocean, which is mostly salt, contains myriad other minerals and chemicals.

“So, the critters take these chemicals out of the water to make their hard parts,” she said.

And when they die those hard parts fall to the ocean floor and become sediment, which then, with the help of minerals acting as glue, cement it together turning it into rock.

Riggs solved the mystery of a black, cylindrical piece this reporter found on the beach and which she thought might have been a fulgurite.

“This is a crab burrow that was cemented in the tide zone,” he said, noting that it got its black appearance by having been in a muddy, peat environment that was without oxygen, or an “inoxide” environment.

Black shells, many of which are oyster shells, are plentiful on Ocracoke’s beach, and Riggs said these are fossil shells.

“Those oyster shells will be anywhere from 200 to 1,000 years old,” he said. “They lived on the back side of the barrier, in the marsh. They’re intertidal. The island came over the top of them and washed them into the ocean.”

This page from Stanley Riggs’ book shows the capes of North Carolina from which sand rocks break off and wash up on the beach.
These are specimens of mud stones found on the Ocracoke Beach.

Minimal snow on Ocracoke on Saturday; storm impacts expected to intensify overnight

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South Point Road. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer

By Joy Crist and Connie Leinbach

As a major winter storm continues to take shape across eastern North Carolina Saturday evening (Jan. 31), National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City expects impacts to intensify overnight into Sunday morning on Ocracoke Island.

As of Saturday evening, Despite flurries all day, Ocracoke has received minimal snowfall, with little accumulation reported so far.

The National Weather Service said Gianna, as they have named it, may bring heavier snow overnight and has the potential to become historic, with snowfall rates overnight that may exceed 1 to 2 inches per hour in heavier bands.

“This is expected to be a historic storm, with the potential for the first 12″+ snowfall event in eastern NC since December 1989 or March 1980,” the NWS said in an email.

Ferry service to Ocracoke has been shut down and Hyde County officials have closed the Ocracoke Convenience Site until further notice.

After the last ferry departed Ocracoke for Hatteras this morning, NCDOT closed NC12 on Ocracoke Island between the ferry terminal and the NPS Pony Pens.

“We will monitor conditions on the highway and reopen it as soon as it is safe to do so after the storm passes,” read the post on the NC12 Facebook page.

NCDOT closed NC12 between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe at 6 p.m. due to deteriorating conditions and poor visibility.

Blowing and drifting snow, combined with strong winds, is expected to significantly reduce visibility and make travel hazardous to potentially impossible at times. Impacts from snow, wind and cold may linger into much of next week.

Coastal flooding remains a primary concern heading into Sunday morning.

Moderate to locally significant flooding is forecast for both oceanside and soundside areas, with the highest impacts expected around the Sunday morning high tide at roughly 7 a.m.

Forecasters said oceanside inundation of 2 to 4 feet is possible due to elevated water levels and wave runup, while soundside flooding of 2 to 4 feet above ground level may occur as well. Vulnerable sections of N.C. Highway 12, particularly south of Oregon Inlet, could see travel impacts from overwash and standing water.

Strong winds are expected to persist overnight, with gusts along the Outer Banks capable of reaching 55 to 70 mph. These winds may contribute to power outages, blowing snow and rapidly changing road conditions.

The Community Square dock. Photo: P. Vankevich/Ocracoke Observer
Downtown Ocracoke around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

What’s open, closed on Ocracoke winter/spring 2026

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Sunset over Pamlico Sound. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer

The following is a list of the establishments on Ocracoke that are open or closed for the season. This list will be updated as the Observer gets information. Businesses: email us or post your seasonal hours/closing on the Observer Facebook page. Updated March 24, 2026. For Ferry schedule, click here.

Food & Drink
1718 Brewing Ocracoke: Open daily at 11 am
The Back Porch: Closed for season
The Back Porch Lunch Box: Closed for season.
DAJIO: Reopens March 31.
Deja Brew: Closed for season
Dingbatters Smokehouse: Formerly Plum Pointe Kitchen. Opening 2026.
EL Mariachi: New this year! Open.
Fire it up BBQ at (Blue Heron Vacations). New this year. Opening end of March.
Flying Melon: Closed for season.
The Fudge & Ice Cream Shop: Open.
Hang Ten Smoothies: Closed for season.
Hart’s Hot Dog Hut: New location this year. Reopening April 7.
Helios Hideaway: Open Open for Lunch and Dinner Monday – Friday 11am-6pm. Saturday 11am-2pm. Closed Sunday.
Howard’s Pub: Open daily 11am-9pm
Jason’s Restaurant: Open. Monday – Saturday.
Jolly Roger: Under construction; reopening spring 2026.
Marauder’s Kitchen. Open.
Mini Bar: Closed for season
Ocracoke Coffee Company: Opening April 1. Will be open daily 7am-12pm. Hours will expand in May.
Ocracoke Oyster Company: Open.
Ocracoke Shave Shack: Open Thursday – Sunday at 6 am serving coffee and breakfast. Check Facebook for updates.
Ocracoke Seafood Company (the Fish House): Open Monday to Saturday, 10 to 5; open till 6 on Tuesdays.
Old Salt Sandwiches & Such: Closed for season. Re-opening May 1, Tuesday – Saturday 11am-2pm
Pony Island Restaurant: Open: Wednesday – Monday 7am-11am (closed Tuesdays)
SMacNally’s: Reopening end of March 27.
Sorellas Pizza & Pasta:  Closed for season.
Stockroom Street Food: Closed for season.
Thai Moon: Closed for season.
Variety Store: Open daily 7am-7pm.
Zillie’s Island Pantry: Open 4 to 8 pm.

Lodging:
Anchorage Inn: Open year-round
Blackbeard’s Lodge: Open year-round.
Blue Heron Realty: Open year-round. Partial stays available.
Bluff Shoal Motel: Open year-round.
Captain’s Landing: Closed for season.
The Castle B&B and Courtyard Villas: Open
Crew’s Inn: Open year-round.
Edwards of Ocracoke Cottages: Open; closing for season Dec. 1
Harborside Motel: Open
Jerniman’s Campground: Open year-round.
McWilliams Landing I & II: Open.
NPS Campground: Open all year.  http://www.recreation.gov
Ocracoke Harbor Inn: Closed for season. Reopening March 19.
Ocracoke Island Realty: Open all year. 9-5 Monday – Friday; daily starting March 30.
Pony Island Inn: Open year-round.
Sand Dollar Motel: Open year-round.
Sandy Paws Bed & Biscuit Inn: Closed for season.
Silver Lake Motel: Closed during renovations. Online reservations: silverlakemotelandinn.com.
The Rich Company of Ocracoke: Open
Thurston House B&B: Closed for season. Reopening in March.

Shops:
Anabelle’s Antiques: Open.  
Bella Fiore: Closed for season.
Books to Be Red: Open daily Mon – Sat 11am-4:30pm. Sun 11am – 4pm.
Captain’s Cargo: Closed
Down Creek Gallery: Closed for season
Island Ragpicker: Re-opening March 6. Early spring hours: Friday & Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday 11am-2pm
Kitty Hawk Kites: Open Tuesday – Saturday 11am-5pm
Kitty Mitchell Studio: Open Tuesday – Saturday 11am-5pm.
Little Rituals: Open Tuesday – Friday 11am – 5pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm. Weekly sound bath + Reiki. Wednesday – Saturday Noon – 4pm.
Mermaid’s Folly: Closed for season. Reopening Feb. 9.
Moonraker Tea Shop: Open daily, Monday – Friday 10am-5pm. Saturday 9am-5pm. Sunday 9am-4pm.
Ocracoke Cigars: Open 1pm-5pm Tues-Sat.
Ocracoke Garden Center: Open by appointment only 252-921-0085.
Over the Moon: Closed for season.
Pirates Chest: Open daily all year 10 am-5 pm
Ragged Sailor Trading Company: Closed for season.
Ride the Wind Surf Shop: Open daily 10 am to 5 pm. Check Ride the Wind social media for updated hours
The Sunglass Shop on Ocracoke: Closed for the season.
Sea Break: Closed for season.
Sunflower Studio: Closed for season.
Tradewinds Tackle: Open Friday – Tuesday 10am-3pm (closed Wednesdays & Thursdays).
Village Thrift: Open. March hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12-4 pm.
Village Craftsmen: Open; Monday – Saturday 11am-5pm. Closed Sundays

Spa and Wellness:
Hands in Harmony Massage. New this year. Open by appointment. Call or text 252-588-2440
Ocracoke Island Yoga: Closed for season.

Museum/Exhibits:
Ocracoke Preservation Society: Closed until April 1.

Services:
ABC Store: Open 11am-6pm, Mon-Sat.
Anchorage Marina: Open daily 7am-5pm
First National Bank: Open Mon-Thurs., 9 am-5 pm; Fridays 9 am to 6 pm. 
Jimmy’s Garage: Open 
Ocracoke Island Discovery Center (NPS): Open Mon-Fri., 1:30 to 4:30 pm. ORV permits are only available for purchase on recreation.gov now. They are no longer sold at the Discovery Center. recreation.gov 1-877-444-6777.
Ocracoke Health Center: Open weekdays 9 am to 5 p.m.; closed noon to 1 pm. 252-928-1511.
Ocracoke Pharmacy: Open weekdays 9 am to 5 pm; closed 1 to 1:30 pm.
Ocracoke Post Office: Open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm; 3pm-5pm, Sat. 10 am-1pm.
Ocracoke Library: Open to the public weekdays from 3 to 7 pm and 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays. StoryWalk (along Robbie’s Way off Silver Lake Drive).
Portsmouth Island Adventures: Open. To book a trip call: 252-928-4484

List courtesy of Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority.

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