A Major Coastal Low is beginning to bring impacts to the North Carolina coast. The coastal low will begin to move up the coast, starting tonight, bringing heavy rainfall and high winds to the coast, especially from Morehead City north to the Outer Banks. A major concern is a potential for severe Storm Surge significant sound-side, and ocean overwash is expected. The greatest impacts will be from the Crystal Coast north to the Outer Banks. A High Wind Warning and Coastal Flood Warning has been issued, everything you need to know below. The southern Coast (Wilmington, Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick County, expect only minor impacts some gusty winds 40-50MPH 2-4" of rain and no coastal flooding. This is a life-threatening situation for the Outer Banks. Everything you need to know below
Southern Coast, Cape Fear Area.
COASTAL FLOODING (STORM SURGE) Significant to life-threatening coastal flooding expected along the Outer Banks starting Friday night through Sunday. The flooding will be both from ocean overwash and sound-side flooding. Potential for life-threatening storm surge, 2 to 4 feet above the ground with higher amounts possible High surf, beach erosion and ocean overwash likely. Locations of greatest concern, Ocean side locations from Duck down to Ocracoke Island. Sound Side locations in Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.
IMPACTS Up to 2 to 4 feet of inundation above ground level, with locally higher amounts, is possible in some areas near shorelines and tidal waterways resulting in an elevated threat of property damage. Rough surf, beach erosion, and ocean overwash are possible along the oceanside, and portions of Highway 12 could be inundated and impassable at times. Severe flooding will extend inland from the waterfront causing flooding of many homes and businesses with some structural damage possible. In some areas, battering waves will cause additional damage to property. Numerous roads will be impassable under several feet of water and vehicles will be submerged. Some neighborhoods will be isolated and some areas may need to be evacuated. Flooding will extend inland from the waterfront threatening some homes and businesses. Numerous road closures and flooding of vehicles will be possible.
Potential for life-threatening inundation for areas adjacent to the Southern Pamlico Sound and lower Neuse River. Rough surf, beach erosion and ocean overwash possible north of Cape Lookout.
GREATEST IMPACTS: Strong northerly winds will bring major Coastal Flooding to the Outer Banks. Soundside Outer Banks south of Oregon Inlet to Carteret County. The Lower Neuse River and the southern shores of Albemarle Sound and Alligator River. Significant oceanside impacts are expected along the Outer Banks from Cape Hatteras north to Oregon Inlet. High 12 will become inundated and impassible in some portions this weekend.
High Winds are likely mainly along the coast from Carteret County to the OBX Hyde and Dare counties, winds could gust up to 60-70MPH along the immediate coast. Impacts power outages likely will be possible and some damage to weakened properties. The strongest period of winds will be from Saturday morning to early Sunday along the Outer Banks.
Wind Advisories have been issued for the Southern Coast, 35-45MPH wind gusts some locally higher speeds along the coastal areas. Power outages are possible.
RAIN: Heavy rain will develop and will move in along the coast, starting today along the southern coast and moving up the coast tonight. The greatest rainfall will be along the coast 3-4" possible for the southern coast (Wilmington South). The heaviest rainfall appears to along the Outer Banks and Crystal coast 3-5" with locally higher amounts of 5-7" likely. Minor Flash Flooding will be possible, but due to the long duration of rain flooding will be low from rain.
Here's a look at the statewide wind gusts
Updates throughout the weekend on North Carolina's Weather Authority Facebook