UPDATED: Winds ease, high water recedes across Outer Banks

February 7, 2020 Sam Walker
Poor Ridge Road, Kitty Hawk Village. [Photo courtesy Chelsea Tillett]

High water is receding this evening after an afternoon of soundside flooding across the Outer Banks left roads under water and prompted an early release for Dare County schools. The flooding was driven by wind gusts in the 50-60 mph range this afternoon.

A coastal flood advisory remains in effect for the Outer Banks through 4 a.m. Saturday, but with easing winds, no further flooding was expected.

At the height of the flooding, The North Carolina Department of Transportation N.C. 12 from the Bodie Lighthouse to Hatteras. Though the road has reopened, standing water remains and drivers are advised to use extreme caution.

In Nags Head, traffic was at a gridlock much of the afternoon as flooding left only the center land open on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway. At Pirate’s Cove nearby, streets were covered in flood water.

Flooding in Pirate’s Cove. [Photo courtesy Kris Day]
The Outlets Nags Head closed this afternoon at 2 p.m. due to flooding.

High water also took N.C. 12 in Duck down to one lane Friday between Dune Road to Old Duck Road and area of Sanderling.

In Kitty Hawk, police reported flooding along Kitty Hawk Road and in other low-lying areas, and urged drivers to stay out of high water.

Along with the high water levels, sustained winds of 30 mph with higher gusts created waves of 3 to 5 feet, taking a toll on soundside structures, especially along the Albemarle Sound on the south end of Currituck County.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts up to 62 mph along the Outer Banks on Friday afternoon:

In Colington, the normal trouble spots experienced flooding this afternoon, with drivers traveling through very high water.

In Manteo, flooding remained Friday night along Budleigh Street, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Fernando Street, Sir Walter Raleigh Street, Ananias Dare Street and Croatan Avenue in downtown Manteo.

Barricades are in place to prevent access to flooded areas, and they will be removed when floodwaters recede, the town said.

Tonight’s First Friday event in Manteo was postponed and events at the Dare County Arts Council were rescheduled. Related story: Gallery exhibit, film screening postponed until Feb. 21

Some of the worst damage reported locally was in Tyrrell County, where several grain silos collapsed at Green Valley Farm along N.C. 94 south of Columbia.

Winds from a thunderstorm caused several grain bins in Tyrrell County to collapse. [submitted photo]
A circuit issue knocked out power to around 1,100 customers of Dominion Power in Kitty Hawk Thursday evening.

Along with heavy rain, with as much as 3 inches recorded at some locations, strong southwest winds have pushed water up into the coastal rivers and sounds, causing street flooding in Elizabeth City and other areas along the northern shore of the Albemarle Sound.

Schools in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, Tyrrell, Washington, Bertie and Gates were closed due to the travel issues.

This is a developing story, stay with OBX Today for updates.

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About Sam Walker 1512 Articles
Sam Walker was news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3 from August 2011 to March 2022.
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