Nor'easter on NC coast: Waves continue thrashing beach homes, NC 12 as crews work through the weekend

OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) — “Travel is dangerous.”

That is how the North Carolina Department of Transportation described N.C. Highway 12 after announcing that the highway is beginning to reopen in Dare County — while also issuing major levels of caution while driving on the coast.

Earlier this weekend, a powerful nor’easter traversed through the NC coast. It brought heavy winds, downpour and overwash to the popular Outer Banks highway.

The National Weather Service issued numerous advisories for the beaches due to the threat of the nor’easter and the damage it could cause. NCDOT closed NC-12 around noon Saturday from the northern Ferry Terminal to the National Park Service Pony Pens due to ocean overwash.

Around 11 a.m. Sunday morning, NCDOT said NC-12 reopened on Hatteras Island but is still closed on Ocracoke Island as crews begin working hard to handle the damaging weather conditions.

Officials said NC-12 is also closed on Pea Island between the Marc Basnight Bridge and the town of Rodanthe due to ocean overwash.

Dare County’s response

Officials with the Dare County Government said rain and wind, along with blowing sand and potential ocean overwash, will “keep travel conditions challenging at best” on NC-12. Following a Sunday briefing with NWS, officials said expected inundation levels are now 3 to 5 feet between Cape Hatteras and Duck. “Northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph will be with us through mid-to-late afternoon,” officials said.

Dare County cautions residents to avoid travel if at all possible, and specify that the road may become hazardous due to potential flooding. “The midday high tide will most likely bring the worst conditions,” officials said. “Those along the oceanfront should remain ready to protect property especially in areas with vulnerable or non-existent dune structures.”

NCDOT also said Sunday morning that the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route is suspended due to weather conditions.

Officials said NC-12 is expected to completely reopen by noon Monday.

NCDOT cameras along Ocracoke and Hatteras islands showed blowing sand and flooding on NC-12 throughout the day Sunday . Crews were spotted all the way up to Oregon Inlet.

Potential Beach Erosion

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore sent out an alert Sunday morning to advise the public of areas with erosion hotspots and as well as certain beaches in the area.

Officials said amongst the warning was that flooding is bringing hazardous conditions to the beach in front of the Village of Buxton. The area is the same place where multiple homes were swept away into the Atlantic Ocean last week. Officials said the hazardous conditions “may become life-threatening, including damaged and threatened oceanfront structures.”

Listed here are erosion hotspots that Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials said to avoid:

• Northern portions of Hatteras Island, south of the Basnight Bridge and up to the Pea Island Visitor Center
• Most side streets and Old Highway 12, north of the roundabout in Rodanthe
• Northern portions of Buxton, including Old Lighthouse Road
• The stretch between Frisco and Hatteras Village

“Wooden building debris and septic system components have been observed this morning on area beaches,” officials said. “Visitors should exercise extreme caution on beaches in Rodanthe and south of Buxton.”

OBX Houses in Danger

Reports are swirling of one property in danger of collapsing in Buxton.

According to the Associated Press, a green house was spotted in the midst of a storm at risk of being swept into the ocean. It appeared to have upper decks already collapsed, and the base of the house hanging on by just a few wooden panels.

This is a developing story.

Starletta Watson

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