Storm Surge/Tide — Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

2025-08-20 to 2025-08-22 · Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Event narrative

Major overwash and storm surge significantly impacted Ocracoke Island for several days. A mandatory evacuation was issued for visitors and residents days before the main effects. While some overwash began on August 19th with distant swells, it became substantial on August 20th. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island experienced severe inundation from ocean overwash and storm surge for several days, leading to beach erosion that exposed the sides of the road, as reported by NCDOT. The section of Highway 12 between the pony pens and the Ocracoke-Hatteras ferry terminal remained closed until 5:00 PM on Monday, August 25th.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Erin made its closest approach to the North Carolina coast during the morning hours of Thursday, August 21st, 2025 as a category 2. While the center of Erin remained around 200 miles east of Cape Hatteras, Erin was so large that damaging ocean overwash and storm surge impacted Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and caused additional minor ocean overwash along ocean areas to the north and to the south, and minor soundside flooding on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, as well as Downeast Carteret County. According to the National Hurricane Center, Erin was one of the largest hurricanes on record. Additional impacts included dangerous rip currents on Eastern NC beaches, and tropical storm force gusts along the Outer Banks. Erin brought no rainfall or tornado impacts.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1291195. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.