News Release

Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands temporarily inaccessible due to hazardous highway conditions

Date: March 4, 2018
Contact: Mike Barber, 252-475-9032

• The North Carolina department of Transportation has closed NC Highway 12 from the Bonner Bridge to Rodanthe and suspended ferry operations to Ocracoke Island. Updated information is available here: https://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/RegionSummary.aspx?ro=3810.

• Other areas of NC Highway 12 and side roads may also have hazardous driving conditions that should be avoided.

• The Atlantic Ocean has over-washed the dunes in multiple locations along both Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

• High surf conditions have resulted in extremely hazardous conditions on and directly behind beaches.  

• Walking and driving on beaches is not recommended until hazardous conditions subside later this week.

• Potentially hazardous ocean debris may wash ashore and buried items may be exposed during storm conditions.

• Cargo containers have been recently lost from a cargo vessel off the North Carolina coast.  

• Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors should report sightings of cargo containers either offshore or on the beach to Dare County’s non-emergency line at 252-473-3444.
• For more information about the weather, listen to NOAA weather radio or go here: www.weather.gov.