Overwash, coastal flooding threaten NC coast

MANTEO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina may escape the brunt of a winter storm predicted to drop heavy snow along the Mid-Atlantic coast, but officials on the Outer Banks expect they'll experience the usual troubles associated with systems that churn offshore.

The National Weather Service says a strong low pressure system will pass through the state, then intensify off the coast on Wednesday and into Thursday. Forecasters expect rain will mix with and change to snow Wednesday night, although no accumulation is expected.

Dare County Emergency Management Coordinator Sandy Sanderson said officials are concerned about Thursday's 3 a.m. high tide, when there's a threat of ocean overwash and flooding. Sanderson said overwash is possible on N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island, and that beach erosion is a possibility along the northern Outer Banks.