Storm Watches and Advisories in effect for OBX

By Outer Banks Voice on December 22, 2022

(NWS Newport/Morehead)

Update: The National Weather Service has also issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Dare County, effective from 7:00 a.m. on Friday, December 23 to 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 24. Arctic air will push into the region reducing temperatures to possible record lows. These temperatures coupled with high winds could lower the wind chill as low as zero degrees.

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Dare County Emergency Services and the Dare County Sheriff’s Office shared this Thursday, Dec. 22 update on the weekend storm in our area.

A Coastal Flood Watch and High Surf Advisory remain in place. This morning, a High Wind Advisory was added for west winds at 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph expected from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.

The west wind will be with us into the weekend, keeping the soundside flooding threat from Kitty Hawk to Hatteras Island, including Roanoke Island, as a possibility well into late Saturday, Dec. 24. Flood waters may impact travel on roads that flood with persistent westerly winds. Soundside water levels can be monitored on the state’s Flood Inundation Mapping and Alerting Network (FIMAN) at FIMAN.

(NWS Newport/Morehead)

Travel through flooded roads should be avoided. Oceanside impacts should also be anticipated, especially in vulnerable locations like the north end of Rodanthe where residents and visitors should be ready to protect property from ocean overwash.

After frontal passage, arctic air will push into the region taking temperatures to possible record lows. Those temperatures, coupled with the wind, will bring wind chill into the teens and single digits this weekend. With power outages a possibility, everyone should have winter clothes and warm blankets ready. Checking heating systems and pipes for insulation now could help avoid impacts as temperatures drop. As temps drop, keeping a slow flow of water may help keep uninsulated pipes from freezing.

For property managers, please reach out to your customers to help raise awareness. This Christmas weekend will bring weather impacts that visitors may not have been expecting.

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