A long-duration period of hazardous weather will begin Thursday and continue through the weekend, as strong northeast winds develop behind a cold front and a coastal storm forms off the Carolina coast.

According to a Tuesday evening briefing from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport/Morehead City office, gusty winds and coastal flooding will begin Thursday and intensify late Saturday into early next week as the developing storm system moves offshore. Confidence is now high that the storm will form, but forecasters note that the storm’s exact track and intensity remain uncertain, which will affect the severity and location of impacts

Minor to moderate oceanside and soundside flooding is expected Thursday into Friday along the Outer Banks, including the oceanside areas of Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and the southern Pamlico Sound. As the storm strengthens over the weekend, the potential exists for moderate to locally major coastal flooding, particularly on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands

The NWS warns that significant ocean overwash could affect portions of N.C. Highway 12 on both islands, making some areas inaccessible at times, especially during high tide cycles. Elevated water levels of 2 to 4 feet above ground level are forecast along oceanside areas, with even higher levels possible this weekend as the storm peaks

The strongest winds are expected from Friday through Sunday, with threat levels reaching “high impact” (level 3) for both oceanside and soundside flooding, as well as marine hazards. Heavy rainfall and areas of flash flooding are also possible this weekend, which may worsen flooding impacts in low-lying areas

King tides occurring through this timeframe will further exacerbate flooding. Forecasters caution that impacts could be higher than currently projected if the coastal storm intensifies more than expected.

The National Weather Service urges residents and visitors to closely monitor updates over the coming days and avoid anchoring plans on any single forecast scenario.

For information on the local forecast, visit weather.gov/mhx for general weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.

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