Winter Storm — Eastern Dare, North Carolina

1998-02-03 to 1998-02-06 · Eastern Dare, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

An intense coastal low moved northeast along the immediate coastline producing strong winds and heavy rain across the region. Seas of 14 to 16 feet ate away at the beaches from Topsail Island to the Outer Banks. In Nags Head alone 18 houses were condemned and along the 11-mile stretch of shoreline an average of 45 feet of beach washed away. Three piers lost pilings and planks and one house fell into the ocean. Damage was estimated at $21.8 million. On the Bogue Banks 15 to 20 feet of dunes washed away destroying beach access walkways. Dune lines were breached in North Topsail threatening a stretch of condominiums. The storm brought 3-5 inches of rain further aggravating already swollen rivers and streams. The Neuse in Kinston rose to 19.5 feet, 5.5 feet above flood stage and the Tar at Greenvile crested over 18 feet. In both cases there was lowland flooding and some secondary roads were impassable. Floodwaters made their way into Belhaven's Town Hall in Beaufort County and other buildings on Main Street. Flooding also occurred in the Whichard's Beach Road area near Washington. N.C. Route 12 on Ocracoke Island was washed over and much of the dune structure on the northern end of the island was washed away.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5631189. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.