Light to moderate flooding was reported on the north end of Ocracoke Island, north of Buxton and along the side roads of Rodanthe ahead of high tide at approximately 12:50 p.m. Monday, but NC Highway 12 remains open on both Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.

“This Monday at noon, NC12 on Ocracoke will remain open with reduced speeds and extreme caution as sand and ocean tide inundate the roadway,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) said in a midday update. “The tide will recede around 12:30 p.m. today.”

Unusually high tides peaked over the weekend and are continuing to recede, but will continue to cause light to locally moderate coastal flooding through Tuesday, according to an update from the National Weather Service (NWS) in the Newport/Morehead City office.

While tides are slowly receding, swell from a distant low pressure system offshore will continue to cause elevated water levels over the next few days, especially north of Cape Hatteras. Flooding impacts may be increased in areas with recently destroyed dune structures.

According to the NWS, flooding will be most severe at 12:50 p.m. Monday and 1:50 p.m. Tuesday. A coastal flood warning is in effect for the Outer Banks until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

On the Sound side, flooding of up to 1 foot (30 cm) is possible on the Outer Banks through Tuesday.

Two homes in the Rodanthe area also collapsed Friday, sending debris washing ashore from the Tri-Villages to the south. In a news release Saturday morning, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore advised visitors to avoid the beach in the northern Rodanthe area because there was dangerous debris in the water and on the shoreline. Click here for more information on the home collapses and the ongoing cleanup.

During the next flood cycles, localized flooding is expected to continue at known at-risk locations, including the north end of Ocracoke Island, the north end of Buxton, and near the Pea Island Visitor Center.

Below is a list of local Outer Banks resources with more information.