Weather

7-mile stretch of NC 12 closed in Outer Banks due to overwash

A 7-mile stretch of N.C. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks is expected to remain closed for days due to sand and overwash on the road.

Posted 2024-02-13T18:08:03+00:00 - Updated 2024-02-13T18:28:16+00:00

A 7-mile stretch of N.C. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks' Ocracoke Island is expected to remain closed for days due to sand and overwash on the road.

All lanes of N.C. 12 are closed on the north end of Ocracoke Island between the National Park Service Pony Pens and the Ocracoke Ferry Terminal, according to the state Department of Transportation.

N.C. 12 is expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Thursday.

"The low pressure system that brought us the rain is pulling away from us to the northeast," said WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth. "In the wake of the low, we have a strong northwesterly wind causing overwash along the Outer Banks."

Photo captured Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 at 11:03 a.m. Courtesy: NCDOT

The Outer Banks is under a flood advisory until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when 2 to 3 feet of inundation is possible above ground level. Some roads and low lying areas will experience flooding.

According to Wilmoth, improving conditions are expected late this evening.

The NCDOT posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying N.C. 12 "will remain closed until conditions improve. Elsewhere, we are seeing soundside flooding in several locations on Hatteras and Pea Islands. Drive with EXTREME CAUTION if you must go out today."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a closure stretching to the Ocracoke ferry terminal, not the Hatteras ferry terminal as origianally posted.