An early-season Nor'easter developed offshore east of the Carolinas, then moved slowly north offshore of the U.S. East Coast. The Nor'easter was preceded by a long fetch of northeasterly winds that led to a period of strong onshore winds and increasing swell energy, with impacts felt from the Carolinas to New England. Moderate to strong winds, dangerous seas, rough surf, and coastal impacts then continued for multiple days as the Nor'easter strengthened and moved up the coast. Across Eastern North Carolina, the greatest impacts were felt along the Outer Banks where multiple days of large breaking waves battered beaches, leading to beach erosion, wave runup and ocean overwash, coastal flooding, and significant damage to portions of NC Highway 12 on Hatteras Island.
Peak Wind Reports
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 821 PM EDT Thu Sep 24 2026 ...Peak Wind Gusts over the Past 24 Hours... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Bunyan RAWS 30 MPH 0413 PM 09/24 35.52N/76.93W Washington (OCW AWOS) 28 MPH 0535 PM 09/24 35.57N/77.05W ...Carteret County... Fort Macon (WxFlow) 42 MPH 0555 PM 09/24 34.70N/76.69W Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 41 MPH 0619 PM 09/24 34.73N/76.65W Bogue Field (NJM ASOS) 39 MPH 0659 PM 09/24 34.67N/77.02W Cape Lookout CMAN 38 MPH 0440 PM 09/24 34.62N/76.53W Beaufort 37 MPH 0605 PM 09/24 34.76N/76.41W Beaufort (Duke Marine Lab) 37 MPH 0736 PM 09/24 34.72N/76.67W Croatan RAWS 35 MPH 0148 AM 09/24 34.76N/76.90W Davis 32 MPH 1255 PM 09/24 34.80N/76.46W Atlantic Beach 0.4 E 30 MPH 0415 PM 09/24 34.70N/76.73W Newport 2.5 W 28 MPH 0415 PM 09/24 34.78N/76.90W Newport 7.5 E 28 MPH 0732 PM 09/24 34.78N/76.73W Morehead City 4.7 W 27 MPH 0730 PM 09/24 34.73N/76.81W NEWPORT 26 MPH 1230 PM 09/24 34.78N/76.88W ...Craven County... Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 39 MPH 0702 PM 09/24 34.90N/76.88W New Bern (EWN ASOS) 36 MPH 0659 PM 09/24 35.07N/77.05W James City 3.4 SSE 32 MPH 0730 PM 09/24 35.06N/77.01W Havelock 0.7 NW 28 MPH 1010 PM 09/23 34.89N/76.91W ...Dare County... Avon (WxFlow) 55 MPH 0737 PM 09/24 35.35N/75.50W Oregon Inlet CG (WxFlow) 50 MPH 0557 PM 09/24 35.80N/75.55W KHK Resort (WxFlow) 48 MPH 0141 PM 09/24 35.58N/75.47W Hatteras High (WxFlow) 47 MPH 0146 PM 09/24 35.26N/75.55W Real Slick (WxFlow) 47 MPH 0516 PM 09/24 35.57N/75.47W Nags Head 46 MPH 0601 PM 09/24 35.87N/75.58W Rodanthe 0.6 N 44 MPH 0815 AM 09/24 35.60N/75.47W Frisco (HSE ASOS) 43 MPH 0657 PM 09/24 35.23N/75.62W Oregon Inlet Marina 43 MPH 0600 PM 09/24 35.80N/75.55W Buxton (WxFlow) 42 MPH 0213 PM 09/24 35.26N/75.52W Manteo (MQI AWOS) 41 MPH 0755 PM 09/24 35.92N/75.70W Manteo 0.5 SSE 40 MPH 0115 AM 09/24 35.90N/75.67W Southern Shores 1.7 NNW 40 MPH 0632 PM 09/24 36.12N/75.72W Buxton RAWS 40 MPH 0230 PM 09/24 35.25N/75.53W Kill Devil Hills 37 MPH 0125 AM 09/24 36.05N/75.69W DVI11679 37 MPH 0815 PM 09/23 35.55N/75.47W Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS) 37 MPH 1216 PM 09/24 35.68N/75.90W Kill Devil Hills 36 MPH 0525 PM 09/24 36.03N/75.67W Kitty Hawk 36 MPH 0315 PM 09/24 36.08N/75.70W Dare Bomb Range RAWS 36 MPH 0448 PM 09/24 35.76N/75.87W Kitty Hawk 3.9 NNW 35 MPH 0735 PM 09/24 36.11N/75.75W Buxton 0.7 SE 32 MPH 0630 PM 09/24 35.25N/75.53W Kill Devil Hills (FFA AWOS) 32 MPH 0755 PM 09/24 36.02N/75.67W Manteo 26 MPH 1000 AM 09/24 35.89N/75.66W ...Duplin County... Kenansville (DPL AWOS) 29 MPH 0435 PM 09/24 35.00N/77.97W Jacksonville 8.8 NNW 25 MPH 0909 AM 09/24 34.92N/77.78W Wallace (ACZ AWOS) 25 MPH 0735 PM 09/24 34.73N/78.00W ...Hyde County... Engelhard (7W6 AWOS) 37 MPH 0215 PM 09/24 35.56N/75.96W Fairfield RAWS 26 MPH 0417 PM 09/24 35.54N/76.22W ...Lenoir County... Kinston (ISO AWOS) 25 MPH 0351 PM 09/24 35.32N/77.62W ...Martin County... Williamston (MCZ AWOS) 28 MPH 0115 PM 09/24 35.86N/77.18W ...Onslow County... Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 39 MPH 0536 PM 09/24 34.72N/77.45W Jacksonville 1.7 NNW 31 MPH 0545 PM 09/24 34.77N/77.44W Richlands (OAJ AWOS) 31 MPH 0745 PM 09/24 34.82N/77.62W ...Pamlico County... Oriental 1.7 NE 31 MPH 0515 PM 09/24 35.05N/76.67W MINNESOTT BEACH 25 MPH 0715 PM 09/24 34.97N/76.81W ...Pitt County... Greenville (PGV AWOS) 35 MPH 0734 PM 09/24 35.62N/77.40W ...Washington County... Creswell 2.6 SSW 35 MPH 0215 PM 09/24 35.84N/76.42W Creswell 30 MPH 0245 PM 09/24 35.84N/76.42W Roper 9.8 ENE 29 MPH 0345 PM 09/24 35.95N/76.47W Tidewater Research Station 29 MPH 0655 PM 09/24 35.85N/76.65W ...Maritime Stations... Jennettes Pier (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0746 PM 09/24 35.91N/75.59W Diamond Buoy (41025) 51 MPH 0650 PM 09/24 35.02N/75.36W Pamlico Sound (WxFlow) 51 MPH 0249 PM 09/24 35.42N/75.83W Duck Pier 50 MPH 0612 PM 09/24 36.18N/75.75W Duck Pier 50 MPH 1230 AM 09/24 36.18N/75.75W Onslow Bay Buoy (41064) 49 MPH 0708 PM 09/24 34.21N/76.95W Alligator River Br (WxFlow) 48 MPH 0643 PM 09/24 35.90N/76.01W Avon Sound (WxFlow) 47 MPH 1242 PM 09/24 35.37N/75.51W Frisco Woods (WxFlow) 47 MPH 0217 PM 09/24 35.25N/75.63W Ocracoke 3.5 NW (WxFlow) 47 MPH 0731 PM 09/24 35.14N/76.01W Croatan Sound (WxFlow) 42 MPH 0709 AM 09/24 35.87N/75.67W Atlantic Channel (WxFlow) 42 MPH 0651 PM 09/24 34.88N/76.34W Crab Point (Wx Flow) 38 MPH 0612 PM 09/24 34.76N/76.72W 25 ENE Oregon Inlet 34 MPH 0500 PM 09/24 35.95N/75.13W 35 ENE Hatteras Island Fishi 31 MPH 0600 PM 09/24 35.73N/74.85W
Coastal Flood Gauges
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Coastal Gauge at Duck, NC. Note that the gauge reached "Major" flood stage for 6 consecutive high tide cycles. |
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Coastal Gauge at Hatteras, NC. This gauge reached Minor flood stage. |
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Coastal Gauge at Ocracoke, NC. This gauge reached Minor flood stage. |
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Coastal Gauge at Beaufort, NC. This gauge reached Moderate flood stage. |
Nor'easter Overview
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Surface Analysis (Sep 23) |
Surface Analysis (Sep 24) |
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Surface Analysis (Sep 25) |
Surface Analysis (Sep 26) |
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Surface Analysis (Sep 27) |
Pictures/Social Media
NC12 remains CLOSED between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe. Severe overwash continues on Pea Island, and crews are working to assess the apparent damage to the roadway near the Visitor Center. https://t.co/WXTVueCVXE
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 24, 2026
Our initial assessment of the damaged section of NC12 near the Pea Island Visitor Center indicates about 500' of undermined and/or broken pavement. As a reminder, NC12 is CLOSED between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe. Crews will get a better assessment once the water clears. https://t.co/aZ6JX1X4Yn
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 24, 2026
OBX this morning: Canal Zone north of Pea Island, Ocracoke between the Hatteras Ferry terminal and town, and the Hatteras Ferry terminal area. #ncwx #obxwx https://t.co/wepndJRA0E
— Matthew East (@eastwx) September 25, 2026
Pics from Pea Island this morning. The road is currently covered in 4' of water in some areas, as well as deep sand. At this point, it is impossible to assess the extent of any road damage, but once we do, we will have a better idea of repair/reopening options. https://t.co/6lx5zQBSzk
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 25, 2026
The weather is improving, and our crews are out assessing damage and working to restore access to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands as quickly as possible. Let's hope for calmer tides to help us make progress! https://t.co/aHfLAc8MQb
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 26, 2026
Recovery efforts have begun on NC12 on Pea Island! Our first priority is building a protective dune while removing asphalt and grading for a one-lane onsite detour. If we get through the next high tide without trouble, we will have a better timeline as to when it can reopen. https://t.co/Wqvbkrk4rB
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) September 27, 2026
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