UPDATED: High wind warning, coastal flood, high surf advisories posted for the Outer Banks

No one was to be found along the beach at Baltic Street in Nags Head on Tuesday. [Sam Walker photo]

A fast moving coastal storm is forecast to bring high winds to all of the Outer Banks starting tonight, along with the possibility of soundside flooding along lower Hatteras and Ocracoke island, and ocean overwash for northern Hatteras Island.

An area of low pressure will move eastward to the south of the area Tuesday night and strengthen well offshore Wednesday, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City.

A high wind warning begins at 11 p.m. Tuesday, coastal flood advisory starts at 2 a.m. Wednesday, and a high surf advisory will get underweay at 4 a.m.

Strong north-northeast winds will develop Tuesday night, peaking Wednesday morning and early afternoon, with wind gusts at times between 50 and 60 mph.

The wind forecast has led Dare County Schools to cancel Wednesday’s remote feeding sites:

With the strong onshore water level rises of 1 to 2 feet will be possible for areas adjacent to the Pamlico Sound from Buxton to Ocracoke, as well as Carteret and Pamlico counties.

High surf will develop along with the threat for overwash and minor erosion for the beaches north of Cape Hatteras. High tides will be around 2 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Offshore seas of 8 to 14 feet north of Ocracoke are expected on Wednesday, then slowly subsiding Wednesday night and Thursday.

For the Currituck Outer Banks, a coastal flood advisory in effect at 11 p.m. Tuesday, a wind advisory at 1 a.m. and a high surf advisory at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Widespread rain is also expected into Wednesday morning, with 1 to 2 inches possible across coastal areas of northeastern North Carolina. Locally heavy rainfall will be also be possible.

Once the storm clears, dry weather returns with cooler temperatures headed into the first weekend of April.

National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Tuesday 4 p.m.:

Tonight
Rain before 8pm, then showers between 8pm and 2am, then rain after 2am. Low around 47. Windy, with a northeast wind 18 to 23 mph increasing to 24 to 29 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Wednesday
Rain, mainly before noon, then a slight chance of showers after 2pm. High near 53. Windy, with a north wind 31 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Breezy.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Tuesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

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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.