Hurricane-force wind gusts possible for some areas of the Outer Banks during cold front – OBX Today


Dare County is under a Coastal Flood Warning and High Wind Warning due to the expected impacts from a strong cold front that will bring high winds, soundside flooding and oceanside flooding to our area later today, January 9, 2024, through Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Two to four feet of inundation above ground level will be possible Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon. This front will also bring south winds of 30 to 40 mph with possible hurricane-force gusts of up to 70 mph starting Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night.

In addition to bringing greater potential for wind driven property damage, the winds will also make driving conditions hazardous, especially on bridges where winds speeds could be higher. These impacts coupled with a high potential for overwash could make travel hazardous at best. It would be prudent to minimize travel as conditions worsen, especially during the overnight hours and into the morning.

As you are making storm preparations, make sure to secure all loose outdoor items. Strong winds and flooding make unsecured outdoor objects a hazard. Some items to double check include, trash/recycling cans, pots and planters, toys, grills, tables and chairs, and lawn décor.

When flooding is happening, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown!

For current road conditions from NCDOT, visit drivenc.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter or Facebook.

To sign up to receive alerts if water levels in your area begin to rise due to storm surge, visit www.FIMAN.NC.gov and select the flood gauge(s) located in the waterway you’d like to monitor in real time.

Sign up to receive emergency alerts from Dare County & KDH

It’s important for your safety to have multiple ways to receive warnings. This will help you and your family prepare and know when to act.

There is potential that our area will be impacted by tornadoes. Tornadoes that occur during the night are particularly dangerous. Have multiple ways to receive warnings, and at least one that can wake you up.