A strong cold front moving across the region on Saturday will have the potential to bring severe weather, high winds, minor coastal flooding through the afternoon. And don’t be surprised if there are few snowflakes in the air after the front passes.
The Newport/Morehead City office of the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for the Dare and Hyde mainland, and a High Wind Watch for the Outer Banks from Duck to Ocracoke.
Sustained southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph are forecast north of Oregon Inlet through midday on Saturday. On Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts around 60 mph are possible.
The winds will shift to the northwest in the afternoon as the front moves through and remain in the 20 to 30 mph range, with gusts to 40 mph, through Saturday night.
A level 2/slight severe weather threat is forecast for northeast North Carolina and the Outer Banks, with scattered thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts that could produce an isolated tornado.
Minor flooding is possible of up to 2 feet above ground level, especially along the normal trouble spots soundside of the Outer Banks, is possible Saturday morning through Saturday evening.
Some ocean overwash is possible at high tide along the south-facing beaches from Buxton to Ocracoke.
A Storm Warning is in effect for the Atlantic Ocean south of Oregon Inlet and the Pamlico Sound, while a Gale Warning is in effect for the rest of the coastal waters.
After the front passes, temperatures will plummet and precipitation may change over to snow before tapering off but no accumulation is expected due to the warm ground.
Then Sunday morning will start out brutally cold, with temps in the mid 20s and winds of 20 to 30 mph that will have wind chills in the mid teens.
National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Friday morning:
Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
Tonight
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1am. Temperature rising to around 59 by 5am. Southeast wind 5 to 14 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then showers likely between 2pm and 4pm, then rain likely after 4pm. Temperature rising to near 69 by 9am, then falling to around 36 during the remainder of the day. Windy, with a south wind 22 to 32 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
A chance of rain and snow, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 27. Windy, with a northwest wind 26 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph becoming west 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 40.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 58.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Tuesday Night
A chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
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