Outer Banks flood warning with high surf, winds forecast; more homes could ‘break apart or collapse’

CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. (WNCN) — Weather forecasters are warning that a storm will bring rough seas, flooding, and tropical-storm-force winds to the North Carolina coast starting Monday night through Wednesday.

The Outer Banks — recently hit repeatedly by flooding and storms — are at risk for the worst of the “coastal low” weather system with 58 mph wind gusts forecast near the Hatteras Island town of Rodanthe, the National Weather Service said.

Gale warnings are in effect for all waters at the Outer Banks with steady winds between 35 and 45 mph forecast for Tuesday.

A high surf advisory is in place until 2 a.m. Thursday, with “large breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet expected in the surf zone,” forecasters said about Hatteras Island.

Flooding up to 3 feet is forecast along the middle Outer Banks islands starting Monday night, with winds “strongest through the day Tuesday,” forecasters in Morehead City said.

A coastal flood warning is in place for all of the Outer Banks, according to the National Weather Service.

“Significant ocean overwash will likely impact vulnerable portions of N.C. 12 in Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, making it inaccessible at times,” the weather service said.

In addition to high winds and flooding, “periods of heavy rain will be possible,” according to the weather service.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials on Monday warned about the collapse of more homes on Hatteras Island after 11 houses were washed into the sea starting in mid-September.

“Two beach closures are in place because of dozens of threatened oceanfront structures that may break apart or collapse,” the national seashore said Monday.

The latest home collapse happened in Buxton just nine days ago after nine oceanfront homes collapsed into the ocean between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3 — including five in one day.

In Buxton, attention has focused on a green home, called “Lucky Stars,” which has been surrounded by surf and is one of several houses at the highest risk of collapsing.