Coastal Flood — Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

2025-10-01 to 2025-10-02 · Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Event narrative

Distant Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto combined to produce large long period swells that inundated parts of Ocracoke Island. Highway 12 was closed for several days between the Pony Pens and the northern ferry terminal.

Wider weather episode

Distant Hurricanes Humberto Imelda moved well off the East Coast at the end of the month, but produced major ocean overwash and wave runup affecting Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands for several days at the end of the month and into the beginning of October due to large long period swells. Highway 12 became impassable around high tide on September 30th, and remained closed until the early evening of October 2nd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1295720. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.