UPDATED: Soundside flooding Friday closes Hatteras schools, northern beach schools delayed 3-hours

About one foot of water covering N.C. 12 at Hatteras Harbor Marina at 10 a.m. [courtesy HatterasHarbor.com]

UPDATE, Friday 12 p.m.Ferry service has resumed on the Hatteras-Ocracoke and Ocracoke-mainland routes as winds have subsided enough for safe operation.

UPDATE, Friday 10 a.m.: After peaking at 1-to-2 feet above ground level in many spots early this morning, water levels have mostly receded along the soundside north of from Kitty Hawk to Nags Head and along Roanoke Island.

On Hatteras Island, water is still up in a few spots mainly in Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras village but are receding.

All First Flight Schools, Nags Head Elementary School, and Kitty Hawk Elementary School are on a 3-hour delay, while the Cape Hatteras Schools will be closed today.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is currently suspended, and the morning runs between Ocracoke and the mainland were also cancelled due to wind conditions.

Friday, 7 a.m.

The Town of Nags Head reported Soundside Road was flooded from Deering Street near the sound, across the bend and to the entrance of the Jockey’s Ridge sounside access. Minor flooding was also reported along the Kitty Hawk Bay area, including Moor Shore Road in Kitty Hawk and Bay Drive in Kill Devil Hills.

A caller to Jody in the Morning on Beach 104 described the soundside flooding they saw near the Little Bridge on the Nags Head Causeway this morning, but that flooding has now receded.

Minor flooding is possible into Friday afternoon along the soundside after a cold front crossed the Outer Banks overnight.

Sustained northwest winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 are expected to continue, and a Coastal Flood Advisory for soundside areas is posted until 1 p.m.

Standing water will be found in low-lying areas adjacent to the sounds from Duck to Ocracoke, including the typical trouble spots along N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island, as well as Colington Road and other streets and roads normally prone to soundside flooding.

A gale warning has been posted for the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds until 11 a.m..

High pressure returns for the weekend before another strong cold front will move through Sunday night and early Monday. That will bring in an Arctic airmass with temperatures well below normal.

National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Friday 7 a.m.:

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Windy, with a northwest wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 39. North wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday Night
Clear, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Sunday Night
Showers, mainly after 8pm. Low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday
Showers, mainly before 8am. High near 48. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Blustery.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 45.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

 

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About Sam Walker 1512 Articles
Sam Walker was news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3 from August 2011 to March 2022.