Flooding at Tarheel Produce in Jarvisburg on Aug. 4, 2021. [submitted photo]
An unusual weather pattern for mid-summer on the Outer Banks has done just as predicted, as heavy rains over the last two days has produced flooding issues and even wind damage to a local business just inland.
Low pressure systems have been repeatedly moving along a stalled frontal boundary over eastern North Carolina, allowing tropical moisture to flow across the area that’s produced showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall.
Rainfall amounts since midnight have topped six inches in many locations in Currituck and Dare counties, with flash flood warnings issued for lower Hatteras Island, Ocracoke and all of Currituck County earlier this morning.
That’s on top of all the rain many locations have received since strong to severe thunderstorms hit on Sunday.
An embedded thunderstorm produced strong winds in the Grandy area around 8 a.m., causing damage to Flipper’s Arcade. The National Weather Service was notified but has not yet said if they will send an assessment team to determine if a tornado was the cause.
A flash flood watch remains in effect for areas south of the Albemarle Sound, the Dare beaches and Ocracoke. A high risk of rip currents is posted for all beaches, everyone stay out of the ocean today.
The chances of heavy rainfall are forecast to decrease on Thursday, but showers and thunderstorms will remain with us until at least the weekend.
National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Wednesday 12:30 p.m.:
This Afternoon – Flash flood watch, High risk of rip currents
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. High near 77. Windy, with an east wind 26 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. West wind 7 to 9 mph becoming north in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then a chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
