The Outer Banks is feeling the effects of a nor'easter, which will bring dangerous conditions to parts of the East Coast in the coming days.
The nor'easter is already bringing gusty winds, heavy rain and flooding to parts of North Carolina's coast on Thursday morning. Wind gusts could reach 40 to 50 mph, fueling dangerous waves as high as 15 to 18 feet along the Outer Banks and flooding on roads.
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A Coastal Flood Watch is in effect for all of Dare County through midnight Saturday.
On Thursday, the state Department of Transportation closed N.C. 12 between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe after high tide caused a breach in the dune at the Pea Island Visitor Center, leading to major ocean overwash.
The latest assessment from NCDOT shows about 500 feet of pavement near the Pea Island Visitor Center has been undermined or broken.
Around 8 a.m., an NCDOT live camera captured a large crack forming on N.C. 12 near the Pea Island Visitor Center, just north of Rodanthe. A state vehicle was struggling to pass.
NCDOT said crews will conduct a more detailed assessment once the water clears. As of Thursday afternoon, officials had not determined when the road could reopen, but that it would likely remain closed through at least the weekend.
Drivers should stay away from the dangerous stretch of N.C. 12, which remains closed. Additional ocean overwash is possible through the weekend as more high tide cycles move through.
Residents and visitors are also being warned about dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents, beach erosion and soundside flooding along the southern Pamlico Sound.
For residents on Hatteras Island, the damage to N.C. 12 is raising concerns about access to essential services.
“Everybody’s also worried about Pea Island," said Kevin McCabe, a Buxton resident. "That’s our lifeline."
McCabe said residents are concerned about how a prolonged closure could affect mail deliveries, groceries and access to medical care.
“All that’s compromised,” McCabe said.
N.C. 12 has faced repeated overwash and storm-related damage for decades, particularly during strong coastal storms.
WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels explains a nor'easter is a storm system that's common along the East Coast - mostly between September and April. The wind around the storm comes from the northeast, hence the name "nor'easter."