Severe thunderstorms, flash flooding possible along Outer Banks; dangerous rip currents continue

Strong southwest winds continue to produce rough surf conditions off Hatteras village Tuesday morning. [courtesy Outer Beaches Realty/Surfchex]

A strong cold front will slowly move through the area this afternoon and into tonight, bringing the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms, as well as isolated flash flooding.

Ahead of the storms, there is an increased risk of rip currents up and down the Outer Banks today. Everyone needs to stay out of the ocean off Frisco, Hatteras village and Ocracoke, where the risk is high for rip currents along with pounding shore break.

Only experienced surf swimmers should be in the ocean off Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Bodie Island, Pea Island, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Buxton due to a moderate risk of rip currents and a strong cross current.

Much cooler weather is on the way after the front passes, but it will bring an onshore flow that will also crank up the surf along the east-facing beaches on Wednesday into Thursday.

National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Tuesday 10:30 a.m.

 

Today
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. High near 85. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Low around 69. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Northeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday
A chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday
A chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

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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.