HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. — The storm that has battered the Outer Banks for days is pulling away, but it is not done with the coast yet. Josephine, which briefly carried a subtropical label, has turned into a strong post-tropical low offshore, and Dare County warns that king tides and a stiffer northeast wind could push more water over the beaches this weekend.
Josephine started last weekend as low pressure riding a cold front several hundred miles off the Outer Banks, then picked up subtropical traits over the Gulf Stream and was named Wednesday evening. By Thursday afternoon forecasters had reclassified it as post-tropical as it strengthened. Its wind field spans more than 412 miles, hurricane-force gusts were possible near its center by early Friday, and high winds and travel trouble were expected along the islands at least into Friday morning.
County officials said ocean swells are slowly easing, but days of erosion have left the dunes weak and exposed. High tide was due around 6 a.m. Friday, and the combination of seasonal king tides and building northeast winds raises the risk of fresh flooding through the weekend. Minor flooding on the sound side is also possible, mainly on southern Hatteras Island.
The storm should fade quickly as it races northeast into much colder North Atlantic water on Friday. Until then, officials want people out of the water and clear of spots where waves are spilling across the road and dunes. Dare County posts storm updates at DareNC.gov/Storm, and N.C. Highway 12 remains closed north of Rodanthe while the storm winds down.
Filed under: Outer Banks NC Weather News
