The N.C. Department of Transportation said Tuesday N.C. 12 remains closed between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe, as well as on Ocracoke Island between the Pony Pens and the Ferry Terminal.
Last night’s high tide caused additional flooding to these stretches of N.C. 12, and there is standing saltwater in sections of Avon, northern Buxton, northern Rodanthe, and Hatteras.
NCDOT crews are working this morning with the goal of reopening N.C. 12 at some point today, however, much will depend on Tuesday’s high tide, which occurs at noon.
Coastal flooding and ocean overwash will continue through mid-week for Hatteras Island, Ocracoke, Downeast Carteret County, and the Crystal Coast, peaking at high tide around 12:00 p.m. today.
A high threat of rip currents also continues for all area beaches on Tuesday, and will likely linger for the next several days as distant Teddy continues to move north, and away from the mid-Atlantic coastline.
The coastal flood warning for the northern Outer Banks and Hatteras Island has been extended into Tuesday afternoon to account for the next high tide cycle, per a Monday afternoon update from the National Weather Service (NWS) Newport / Morehead City office.
The combination of seasonal high tides, strong northeast winds, and long-form waves created by Hurricane Teddy has caused ocean conditions that have broken through protective dunes and deposited large amounts of sand and saltwater on the road. In some spots, the sand on the highway is four-to-six feet deep. However, per a Monday evening update from NCDOT, no structural damage to the road has been observed.
This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.
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