In anticipation of a powerful storm forecast for the North Carolina coast this week, certain National Park Service facilities on the Outer Banks are closing to the public.
The Ocracoke Campground closed at noon Monday. All other visitor facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial will close at noon Tuesday.
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Facilities are to open at 10 a.m. Wednesday, depending on storm impacts. Closure updates are available on the park service’s website.
Officials warn travelers to avoid Tuesday evening into Wednesday the following vulnerable areas of N.C. Highway 12:
- A 2-mile stretch of highway south of off-road vehicle ramp 59 on Ocracoke Island.
- Between the villages of Hatteras and Frisco.
- Along the northern boundary of Buxton and along Ocean View Drive in Avon.
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s southern boundary with the Village of Salvo.
- several side streets in northern Rodanthe.
- Between the Pea Island Visitor Center and Basnight Bridge.
- Between the Basnight Bridge and Whalebone Junction.
Visitors to Rodanthe should avoid the beach between the north end of Rodanthe and South Shore Drive until conditions improve. Beach driving conditions are not expected to be favorable at off-road vehicle ramps.
Travelers can monitor road conditions at https://drivenc.gov.
For weather-related updates, visit the National Weather Service’s Newport/Morehead City website.
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