It felt more like April than June on Monday. [Kari Pugh photo]
A stalled cold front and low pressure slowly moving across eastern North Carolina is producing an onshore flow with rough surf and a high risk of rip currents, and will drop more rainfall along the Outer Banks on Tuesday.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office have issues a flash flood watch through Wednesday morning, as between three and five inches of rain has fallen since the weekend in some spots and another three to five inches is possible.
Rapid rises of streams and creeks are possible for areas where heavy rain falls for an extended period of time. Flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas is also possible, especially along sections of N.C. 12.
A high risk is forecast from the state line to Cape Hatteras on Tuesday. That includes the beaches along Carova, Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Pea Island, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Buxton, where everyone should stay out of the ocean.
A moderate risk is expected Tuesday for the south facing beaches from Cape Point to Hatteras Inlet, including Frisco and Hatteras village.
Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom causing neck and back injuries.
National Weather Service Forecast for Nags Head as of Tuesday, 11 a.m.:
Today
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. High near 73. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 69. Breezy, with a northeast wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible.
Wednesday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 78. Southeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
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