A Nor'easter Closes N.C. 12 at Pea Island and Disrupts Ferries

A fall nor'easter pushed the Atlantic over the dunes on the Outer Banks on Thursday, forcing the state to close part of N.C. 12, the lifeline road that links Hatteras Island with the rest of the barrier islands.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation closed the highway between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe after high tide breached the dunes near the Pea Island Visitor Center. Officials said they expected similar conditions through the next high-tide cycles. The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor center closed because of the storm, and the refuge's Bird Walk planned for Friday was called off.

Preparing for the Storm

NCDOT had fortified dunes on Pea, Hatteras and Ocracoke islands earlier in the week, and said it was staging equipment in vulnerable areas with crews on standby. The National Park Service had warned that Cape Hatteras National Seashore could see hazardous coastal conditions from September 22 through 25, with moderate-to-strong north and northeast winds, beach erosion, ocean overwash and dangerous surf.

Ferries Disrupted

The storm also disrupted the state ferry system. At last check, only the Southport-to-Fort Fisher route was operating, according to Spectrum News, and the department said it would resume other service once conditions were judged safe. Hyde County Public Schools announced a one-hour delay.

When overwash cuts N.C. 12, the ferries are a common alternative, which made the day's disruption to both a pointed reminder of how exposed the Outer Banks' transportation links are. Travelers can check DriveNC.gov for live road conditions.

Sources: Spectrum News; NCDOT; National Park Service.