Conditions described here were accurate only as of the date shown and may have changed. This is not a substitute for current official information from the agency with jurisdiction. See the full notice. Full notice.
Big Surf and Coastal Flood Threat From Virginia Beach to Ocracoke
Breakers of 8 to 14 feet from Saturday into Tuesday, and the Weather Service now warns of 2 to 4 feet of flooding on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, where NC 12 may go under.
Update, 3:20 p.m. Pacific Friday: The Weather Service has widened and strengthened this weekend's warnings since this morning. It now covers the coast from Virginia Beach to Carteret County, adds coastal flooding, and runs into Tuesday.
The biggest surf is expected farthest north. In Virginia Beach and eastern Currituck County, the Wakefield office forecasts breaking waves of 10 to 14 feet from noon Saturday to 6 p.m. Monday. On the Northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island, the Newport/Morehead City office expects 8 to 12 feet from 2 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Tuesday; Ocracoke 6 to 9 feet and eastern Carteret County 7 to 10 feet, from midnight Saturday night to 8 p.m. Monday.
The flooding is the bigger change. Coastal flood watches for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday morning, warn of 2 to 4 feet of water above ground in low-lying areas near the shoreline and sounds, with numerous road closures possible and vulnerable stretches of NC 12 inundated around high tide. The Northern Outer Banks has a coastal flood advisory for 1 to 3 feet, and Virginia Beach a coastal flood watch for 1 to 2 feet from Sunday afternoon, with numerous roads possibly closed. Forecasters say surf and flooding could continue into midweek.
This is not a weekend for anyone but experienced surfers, and the Weather Service advises inexperienced swimmers to stay out of the water. If you are planning a trip to Hatteras or Ocracoke, NC 12 is the only road down Hatteras Island and Ocracoke is reached by ferry; check the North Carolina Department of Transportation's conditions before driving, and do not drive through water of unknown depth. Watch Cape Hatteras National Seashore for beach-access closures.
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