N.C. Highway 12 damaged, closed on Pea Island as nor’easter impacts the Outer Banks
Atlantic Ocean overwash flows across N.C. Highway 12 on Pea Island in Dare County on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, with roadway storm damage visible. (Photo courtesy North Carolina Department of Transportation)
By Corinne Saunders
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RODANTHE — Atlantic Ocean overwash on N.C. Highway 12 on Pea Island damaged part of the roadway, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) closed the road early Thursday morning between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe, as a nor’easter continues to affect the Outer Banks.
NCDOT announced the closure around 6 a.m. Thursday on its Facebook page specific to the roadway, NCDOT NC 12, noting, “Similar conditions are expected over the next several high tide cycles.”
Camera views of the area by the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Rodanthe showed that the protective eastern sand dune line that was in place Wednesday morning was gone by Thursday morning around 8 a.m., with overwash affecting the area and visible roadway pavement cracking.
NCDOT posted around 10:20 a.m. Thursday that its initial assessment indicated about 500 feet of “undermined and/or broken pavement.” Crews will complete a more detailed assessment when the water clears. It reiterated that the roadway remained closed.
Atlantic Ocean overwash flows across N.C. Highway 12 on Pea Island in Dare County on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, around 8:05 a.m., and cracked roadway is visible. (Screenshot of DriveNC.gov camera view)
Ferry operations between Currituck/Knotts Island, Hatteras/Ocracoke, Cedar Island/Ocracoke and Ocracoke/Swan Quarter were each suspended early Thursday morning “due to inclement weather,” the NCDOT Ferry Division announced through its notification system.
Dare County Schools canceled after-school activities after 5 p.m. on Wednesday and held a remote learning day on Thursday. The district announced in a Thursday afternoon email that Friday will be a remote learning day only for Cape Hatteras Elementary, Cape Hatteras Secondary and Hatteras students attending Dare Early College “due to hazardous road conditions and the potential for continued ocean overwash.” Schools north of Oregon Inlet will follow normal schedules.
In Hyde County, Ocracoke School operated on a one-hour delay Thursday, with afterschool canceled, the district announced Thursday morning.
A Wednesday morning Dare County press release encouraged people to limit travel during the storm.
“Everyone is encouraged to minimize unnecessary travel as conditions deteriorate,” the release said. “If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around, don’t drown. Never drive around barricades or other barriers that have been placed to close a road.”
Ongoing weather advisories
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) at Newport/Morehead City on Tuesday issued a high surf advisory that is in effect Wednesday through Saturday for the entire Outer Banks area.
Double red flags are flying across the area Thursday, and also flew on Wednesday, meaning that ocean swimming is prohibited.
According to the Thursday morning Newport/Morehead City NWS office briefing, the most significant coastal impacts are expected around Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. high tide and Friday’s 7 a.m. high tide, with impacts lasting into Friday night.
The NWS office noted that a coastal flood warning is in effect for oceanside areas from Oregon Inlet to Ocracoke, and coastal flood advisories are in effect for oceanside areas from Duck to Oregon Inlet, as well as for areas adjacent to the southern Pamlico Sound.
A wind advisory is in effect for the Outer Banks until 2 a.m. Friday, with “isolated power outages and some tree damage possible along the Outer Banks,” according to the NWS briefing.
“Moderate to strong winds out of the north to northeast [are] continuing through Friday, peaking today to Friday morning,” the Thursday morning briefing said. Gale warnings are in effect for most area waters through Friday; “hazardous seas could capsize or damage vessels.”
The NWS office forecast maximum wave heights of 4 feet in the Albemarle Sound and 5 feet in the Pamlico Sound, with up to 15-foot waves at ocean buoys closest to the Outer Banks coast and waves up to 20 feet at buoys farther out.
Part of the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) at Newport/Morehead City’s office briefing outlines the timing of coastal impacts and threat levels. (Image courtesy NWS at Newport/Morehead City)
Find current Outer Banks weather information
To subscribe to the NCDOT Ferry Division Ferry Information Notification System (FINS) alerts, visit this NCDOT webpage.
For the most current local weather information for Dare County and Hyde County, visit the U.S. National Weather Service at Newport/Morehead City’s website.
The U.S. National Weather Service at Wakefield, Virginia, covers Currituck County, including Corolla and north. For more information about that area, visit its website.
To sign up for Dare County-specific severe weather updates and for any other official messaging of interest, visit the OBX Alerts website.
To sign up for Currituck County-specific updates through Currituck Alert, text CTUCKALERT to 888-777. For alerts specific to Corolla and the 4WD beaches, text SAFECOROLLA to 888-777.
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This article was updated Thursday, Sept. 24, at 1:50 p.m. to include the recent Dare County Schools announcement of a remote learning day Friday for Hatteras students.
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