The stretch of record-challenging heat comes to an end this weekend as a cold front finally arrives early Saturday. Forecasters now have high confidence that a low pressure system will form along that front and strengthen into a nor’easter that lingers off our coast through the weekend and into next week, bringing strong winds, rough seas, coastal flooding, and dangerous conditions on the water.
Saturday brings widespread rain, generally a half inch to an inch, nothing extreme, as winds shift out of the northeast and begin to build through the day. Gusts of 25 to 30 mph will be common inland, with even higher values right along the coast. A Wind Advisory covers western Carteret, mainland Dare, and mainland Hyde counties from Saturday afternoon through Monday evening, while a High Wind Watch covers the Core and Outer Banks plus Downeast Carteret County from Saturday evening through late Sunday night.
Coastal flooding is a real concern this weekend. Two to four feet of flooding above ground level is possible across the Outer Banks, Core Banks, and Downeast Carteret County, affecting both sound-side and ocean-side locations, with potentially more significant impacts for the most vulnerable ocean-side areas. A High Surf Advisory is in effect with breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet expected in the surf zone, and rip currents will run a moderate to high risk through much of the week, so please stay out of the water if you’re near the coast…