Its a rainy and windy afternoon in Kitty Hawk. [image courtesy OBXSurfInfo.com]
A stalled front across eastern North Carolina is expected to drop several inches of rain this week, and is producing an onshore flow with rough surf and increased risk of rip currents along the Outer Banks.
While there could be several breaks in the precipitation late Monday, forecasters at the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City office are calling for between three and eight inches of rain through Wednesday on the Outer Banks, with locally higher amounts possible.
That could lead to travel issues through flood-prone spots along some roads from Corolla to Ocracoke, especially N.C. 12.
A moderate risk of rip current was posted for all area beaches Monday afternoon due to the choppy conditions and sideshore current. Only experienced surf swimmers should be in the ocean.
A high risk is forecast from Oregon Inlet to Buxton on Tuesday, including Pea Island, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo and Avon, where everyone should stay out of the ocean. A moderate risk is expected Tuesday for the rest of the Outer Banks.
National Weather Service Forecast for Nags Head as of Monday, 1:30 p.m.:
Showers. High near 74. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Showers. Low around 67. Windy, with a northeast wind 23 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9am. High near 74. Breezy, with a northeast wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then showers and thunderstorms after 9am. High near 79. East wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Wednesday Night
Showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
