U.S.
Coastal wind and flood risks build in Virginia and North Carolina
Wind advisories begin Saturday morning; Hatteras and Ocracoke face coastal flood warnings from Saturday evening, with other coastal watches focused on Monday.
By NewsCubby Editorial Desk · Published · Updated
Wind advisories, coastal flood warnings and high-surf alerts cover parts of Virginia and North Carolina as a weather system over the Atlantic Ocean threatens several days of hazardous coastal conditions. Alert timings differ by location.
National Weather Service alerts checked at 6:45 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, October 17 show wind advisories for Virginia Beach and Currituck County from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. North winds of 25–35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph are forecast there. These are forecast conditions, not a claim that those winds have already occurred everywhere.
In parts of Hampton Roads, coastal flood advisories run from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, with up to a foot of water expected in vulnerable areas near the coast and tidal waterways.
Hatteras and Ocracoke islands have coastal flood warnings from 5 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Tuesday. The alerts forecast 2–4 feet of inundation in vulnerable coastal areas. NWS warns that road and ferry disruptions could leave people stranded on either island for several days. These are forecast risks; the alerts do not establish that roads or ferries are already closed.
Separate coastal flood watches for parts of Hampton Roads, the lower James River and eastern Currituck cover Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. A watch means flooding is possible. Local starting times vary, and the current watch products end at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The Weather Service’s 6:32 a.m. Wakefield discussion says the system’s track and strength remain uncertain. Current guidance favors widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding early next week, especially Monday, while some locations could experience greater flooding. High surf and beach erosion are additional concerns.
Check current local NWS alerts and transportation information before coastal travel. Do not drive through floodwater or around barricades, and stay away from dangerous surf. Inland conditions can differ from those at the immediate coast.
Photo: United States Coast Guard, Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Weydert / Public domain. Bodie Island lighthouse after Hurricane Irene, August 28,2011. U.S. Coast Guard / David A. Weydert. Archival illustration; not current weather or damage. Photo resized and placed in an original NewsCubby layout.