Winter storm moving up East Coast producing minor overwash along N.C. 12

Sand and water on N.C. 12 on the north end of Ocracoke the morning of Feb. 1, 2021. [photo courtesy NCDOT]

The winter storm that was dumping major amounts of snowfall on much of the East Coast dropped several inches of rain on us Sunday and has left behind a steady northerly wind that is producing minor overwash at high tide in some spots along N.C. 12 on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.

N.C. Department of Transportation crews were working at the north end of Ocracoke Island this morning. And while there was also some ocean water moving across the road at the motels in Buxton and at Mirlo Beach, N.C. 12 remained open to traffic.

North Buxton the morning of Feb. 1, 2021. [NCDOT image]
Mirlo Beach the morning of Feb. 1, 2021. [NCDOT image]
North end of Ocracoke Island the morning of Feb. 1, 2021. [NCDOT image]

The wind has been blowing out of the northwest and is forecast to remain at around 20 to 25 knots with some gusts to 30 over the coastal waters into Tuesday, before increasing Tuesday night to 25 to 30 knots with gusts of 35.

Nearshore seas of between five and seven feet are forecast, and we may see more mild-to-moderate overwash with high tide tonight around 10:30 p.m. and on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

There is also some standing water left over from Sunday’s rain along N.C. 12 at the usual spots in Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and elsewhere, but that should slowly subside this week.

This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.

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