Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding Expected this Weekend

Latest News from Dare County:

October 6, 2016  2:30 p.m. 

No Travel Restrictions in Place or Anticipated with Matthew’s Current Track

The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center continues to keep Hurricane Matthew south of the Outer Banks. Due to some uncertainty in the track for several days out, the local state of emergency declarations will remain in place to allow local officials the ability to implement protective actions should they become necessary. There are currently no travel restrictions or evacuation orders in place for Dare County and none are anticipated if the current track holds its course.

Locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding are the primary concerns associated with the storm as it moves up the east coast. The most recent forecast indicates rainfall totals from 4 to 8 inches. With water levels already running above normal, it will not take much for low lying areas to receive nuisance type flooding.  Very saturated ground may lead to downed trees and scattered power outages when winds increase late Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

There will be minor to moderate storm surge flooding in areas prone to erosion and ocean overwash. The current forecast indicates that areas along the Pamlico Sound from Buxton south will be most prone to soundside flooding.

As heavy rain and winds begin to impact the area, driving conditions may become hazardous, especially along NC 12 and other roadways prone to flooding. If you encounter water covering the road – turn around, don’t drown. It is never safe to drive or walk through flood waters because you will not know the depth of the water or the condition of the ground underneath. This is especially true at night, when vision is more limited.

The threat of rip currents will remain high through the weekend indicating that the surf is dangerous for swimmers of all levels.

·         To stay up to date with the latest weather and traffic conditions in Dare County, download the free Ready NC App atwww.ncready.org.

·         Subscribe to receive email updates from Dare County Emergency Management at www.DareCountyEM.com and follow @DareCountyEM on Twitter.

·         View the latest watches, warnings and advisories from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/mhx.

·         For the most up to date information regarding the status of NC12, visit www.facebook.com/NCDOTNC12.