Much-needed rain to launch 2022, coastal storm to move through Sunday and Monday

Clouds and few light showers to greet 2022 off Corolla. [courtesy visitob.com]

The Outer Banks and eastern North Carolina have received much-needed rain to wrap up 2021 and kickoff 2022, but a strong cold front and coastal low is expected to impact the area Sunday and Monday.

According to forecasters at the Newport/Morehead City National Weather Service office, widespread heavy rain, gusty winds across coastal communities, minor-to-locally moderate soundside coastal flooding and minor ocean overwash and a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms. are possible.

The final four months of 2021 was one of the driest in 80 years in eastern North Carolina, leading to much of the region to end the year in severe drought conditions.

While this next storm won’t be a full-scale drought-buster, the damp weather since Thursday should help improve the groundwater situation.

And after a mild Christmas and New Year’s week with near record temperatures, it will feel a little more like winter to start the week before a return of mile conditions and another rain maker around the end of the workweek.

National Weather Service forecast for Nags Head, as of Saturday 7:30 a.m.:

New Year’s Day

A chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southwest wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 70. Southwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday Night

Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1am. Low around 39. Southwest wind 8 to 18 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Rain likely before 1pm, then a chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Windy, with a north wind 24 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy.

Sunny, with a high near 54.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.