On Saturday, December 16th, an area of low pressure began to develop and get more organized in the Gulf of Mexico. That low continued to strengthen, eventually cross over the panhandle of Florida early Sunday morning (17th) and directly over our area Sunday night into Monday morning (17th - 18th). The storm would cause record coastal flooding in Charleston, SC, spawned a tornado near Myrtle Beach, set multiple low pressure records for the month of December and caused flooding and hurricane force wind gusts throughout the Northeast.
This storm, a Nor'easter, brought widespread heavy rainfall, isolated flash flooding, gusty winds, severe weather and significant coastal flooding to portions of Eastern North Carolina. This storm is a classic reminder that winter storms can bring impacts equal to that of a tropical storm or low end hurricane. We are vulnerable to strong wind and flooding throughout the ENTIRE year, due to our proximity to the coast. A few of the more notable impacts were flash flooding in Duplin County, significant ocean over wash on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island and a low pressure record for December at Cape Hatteras (984 MB).
**We will continue to update this page as new information, pictures, and reports come in. Please check back for later updates to this summary.**
Flooding
Coastal Flooding
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| Strong southeast winds pushed water toward the western end of Pamlico Sound and up the Pamlico River, causing flooding in Washington. |
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With gusts close to hurricane force off our coast, some of the highest waves over the Gulf Stream approached 30 feet here at Diamond Buoy! |
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Significant over wash caused Highway 12 on Ocracoke to be closed for a time near the Pony Pen area. Credit: Island Free Press. |
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Ocean over wash and multiple dune breaches caused Highway 12 to be closed from south of Frisco to Hatteras Village in the area of Sandy Bay. This view courtesy of NC DOT is north of Hatteras Village. |
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| Waves in Onslow Bay (off the Crystal Coast) peaked around 24 feet. While over wash was not as significant along the Crystal Coast, estimated water levels were 2 feet above normally dry ground along Bogue Sound, and the White Oak River. |
Inland Flooding
Flooding Storm Reports
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 1049 PM EST Sun Dec 17 2023 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0908 PM Flash Flood 2 SW Warsaw 34.98N 78.11W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC 911 Call Center Car stranded in the water on Sam Miller Road, water rescue ongoing. 0934 PM Flash Flood 3 NNW Magnolia 34.93N 78.07W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC Law Enforcement Law enforcement reported a couple of water rescues along Highway 117 between Warsaw and Magnolia. 1000 PM Flash Flood 2 E Calypso 35.15N 78.08W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC 911 Call Center Water across Albritton Road, making it impassable. 1000 PM Flash Flood 3 NW Calypso 35.18N 78.14W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC 911 Call Center Water across Robert Hargrove Road making it impassable. 1000 PM Flash Flood 2 NNW Bowdens 35.08N 78.12W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC 911 Call Center Water across the road along Highway 50 and Highway 117. Multiple cars stuck in water across the county.
1000 PM Flash Flood Faison 35.12N 78.14W 12/17/2023 Duplin NC Emergency Mngr Faison FD/EMS had 4 water rescues.
&& $$ Heden
Rain Reports
Rainfall Totals
Precipitation Reports from the Nor'easter
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 953 AM EST Mon Dec 18 2023 ...48HR PRECIPITATION REPORTS FOR DATES SATURDAY 12/16/2023-MONDAY 12/18/2023... Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Washington 1.0 SSW 3.84 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Pantego 0.4 WSW 3.71 in 0615 AM 12/18 COCORAHS NC Fire RAWS No. 4 3.61 in 0846 AM 12/18 RAWS Washington 3.1 ESE 3.56 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Bunyan RAWS 3.41 in 0913 AM 12/18 RAWS Washington 10.5 ESE 3.20 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Chocowinity 0.2 W 3.20 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Carteret County... Morehead City 5.1 WNW 3.08 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Morehead City 5.7 W 2.95 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Pine Knoll Shores 1.4 E 2.86 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Morehead City 6.0 WNW 2.83 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Morehead City 2.9 WNW 2.68 in 0710 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Newport 1.7 SSE 2.60 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Newport 0.2 SW 2.53 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Emerald Isle 3 WSW 2.45 in 0924 AM 12/18 CWOP Beaufort 3.8 N 2.42 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Atlantic Beach 0.6 W 2.33 in 0730 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Newport (WFO MHX) 2.31 in 1200 AM 12/18 COOP Beaufort 5.3 N 2.30 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Newport 2.5 W 2.18 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.1 E 2.16 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.6 NW 2.06 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.7 NNW 2.03 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Swansboro 3.7 NNE 2.00 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Cape Carteret (COOP) 1.98 in 0700 AM 12/18 COOP Cape Carteret 1.5 NE 1.98 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Croatan RAWS 1.93 in 0848 AM 12/18 RAWS Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 1.91 in 0858 AM 12/18 ASOS Beaufort 3.4 NNW 1.90 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Beaufort 0.5 W 1.84 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Stella 2.5 SE 1.77 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 1.0 NNW 1.75 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Beaufort 1.5 NNW 1.68 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Cedar Point 0.9 WSW 1.64 in 0538 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Swansboro 2.7 NE 1.62 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Ocean 0.5 S 1.58 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Williston 0.9 SW 1.36 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Emerald Isle 2.1 E 1.26 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Cedar Island RAWS 1.08 in 0925 AM 12/18 RAWS ...Craven County... Trent Woods 0.9 WNW 4.11 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 1.4 WSW 4.04 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 5.3 SW 3.99 in 0702 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 2.6 SW 3.90 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 1.5 NW 3.90 in 0921 AM 12/18 COCORAHS River Bend 0.8 ENE 3.86 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 8.8 W 3.77 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Trent Woods 1.0 NNE 3.64 in 0635 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern RAWS 3.52 in 0917 AM 12/18 RAWS Perrytown (COOP) 3.50 in 0700 AM 12/18 COOP Trent Woods 1.3 SSE 3.50 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Trent Woods 1.2 ENE 3.42 in 0600 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 3.8 S 3.10 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Brice Creek 0.9 WNW 3.08 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS 1 WNW Coastal Carolina Regio 2.71 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS James City 2.5 S 2.66 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 1.3 NNE 2.60 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS 1 WSW Lake Lemon 2.60 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS James City 3 S 2.45 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS Bridgeton 0.3 SSE 2.43 in 0715 AM 12/18 COCORAHS James City 2.0 S 2.40 in 0730 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Havelock 3 S 2.40 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS New Bern 7.3 ESE 2.36 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Havelock 1.9 SSE 2.34 in 0744 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 2.32 in 0856 AM 12/18 AWOS New Bern 5.2 SE 2.19 in 0642 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern 12.1 SSE 2.15 in 0656 AM 12/18 COCORAHS New Bern (EWN ASOS) 2.10 in 0854 AM 12/18 ASOS Havelock 0.7 NW 1.61 in 0935 AM 12/18 CWOP ...Dare County... Rodanthe 0.6 N 2.94 in 0715 AM 12/18 CWOP Southern Shores 0.5 NNE 2.79 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Rodanthe 1.0 SSE 2.16 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Dare Bomb Range RAWS 2.06 in 0848 AM 12/18 RAWS Nags Head 1.3 NW 2.02 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS Manteo 2.8 NW 1.95 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Frisco (HSE ASOS) 1.79 in 0851 AM 12/18 ASOS Dare Bombing Range 1.73 in 0854 AM 12/18 RAWS Manteo (MQI AWOS) 1.47 in 0930 AM 12/18 AWOS Buxton RAWS 1.42 in 0930 AM 12/18 RAWS Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS) 1.08 in 0756 AM 12/18 AWOS ...Duplin County... Mount Olive 2.4 SW 6.45 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS 1.5 SE Wallace 3.44 in 0600 AM 12/18 UCOOP Nc Fire Raws No. 3 3.44 in 0912 AM 12/18 RAWS Rose Hill 0.1 NNW 3.17 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Wallace 6.2 ENE 2.95 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Albertson 1.2 WNW 2.76 in 0600 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Wallace 14.8 E 2.60 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Wallace (ACZ AWOS) 1.74 in 0745 AM 12/18 AWOS ...Greene County... Snow Hill 3.78 in 0700 AM 12/18 COOP Snow Hill 3.1 NNE 3.78 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Ayden 6.5 WNW 2.90 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Hyde County... Swan Quarter Ferry Terminal 2.15 in 0700 AM 12/18 COOP Engelhard 0.8 NW 2.15 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Fairfield RAWS 2.11 in 0917 AM 12/18 RAWS Swanquarter 0.4 NNE 1.95 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Ocracoke 0.2 ESE 1.58 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Engelhard (7W6 AWOS) 1.25 in 0750 AM 12/18 AWOS ...Lenoir County... Kinston 4.4 WNW 2.93 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Kinston 3 N 2.93 in 0800 AM 12/18 COOP Kinston 7.0 SW 2.77 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Pink Hill 2.5 NE 2.74 in 0641 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Kinston 5.1 WNW 2.70 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Kinston 4.7 ESE 1.92 in 0820 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Martin County... Williamston 8.9 SSE 3.60 in 0607 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Jamesville 6.1 SW 3.00 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Williamston (MCZ AWOS) 2.30 in 0740 AM 12/18 AWOS ...Onslow County... 1 NW Pumpkin Center 3.89 in 0900 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Jacksonville (COOP) 3.77 in 0738 AM 12/18 COOP Hoffman RAWS 3.34 in 0910 AM 12/18 RAWS Holly Ridge 3.7 E 3.23 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Sandy Run RAWS 3.02 in 0919 AM 12/18 RAWS Sneads Ferry 1.2 SSW 2.96 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Lejeune Soil Monitor 2.91 in 0849 AM 12/18 RAWS 2 WNW New River Station 2.88 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Jacksonville 4.5 NW 2.80 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 2.80 in 0856 AM 12/18 AWOS Jacksonville 3.3 W 2.70 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Jacksonville 6.8 NW 2.68 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Holly Ridge 9.0 ENE 2.66 in 0618 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Holly Ridge 4.8 E 2.49 in 0930 AM 12/18 CWOP Richlands (OAJ AWOS) 2.45 in 0856 AM 12/18 AWOS Hubert 3.7 ENE 2.20 in 0726 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Sneads Ferry 1.7 SE 2.10 in 0930 AM 12/18 CWOP Swansboro 2.8 WSW 1.84 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Hubert 4.9 SE 1.81 in 0624 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Pamlico County... Bayboro 0.4 W 2.97 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS Grantsboro 4.6 SSW 2.88 in 0849 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Lowland 0.2 SE 2.83 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Oriental 2.0 WSW 2.75 in 0900 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Oriental 4.3 NNW 2.74 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Merritt 1.5 WSW 2.57 in 0600 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Oriental 1.7 NE 2.40 in 0930 AM 12/18 CWOP Oriental 5.2 NE 1.40 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Pitt County... Fountain 0.1 NE 4.47 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Winterville 3.5 W 3.99 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 2.8 ESE 3.91 in 0838 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 7.3 SSE 3.61 in 0753 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 7.1 SSE 3.59 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 5.0 SE 3.46 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 2.3 ESE 3.42 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville 4.7 WNW 3.42 in 0800 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Winterville 2.6 ENE 3.15 in 0815 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Winterville 1.0 ENE 3.04 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Greenville (COOP) 2.05 in 1200 AM 12/18 COOP ...Tyrrell County... 1 E Kilkenny 2.86 in 0940 AM 12/18 AWS Gum Neck (COOP) 2.54 in 0630 AM 12/18 COOP Columbia 0.8 NNE 2.50 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS ...Washington County... Roper 2.4 NE 5.91 in 0700 AM 12/18 COCORAHS Pocosin Lakes RAWS 2.67 in 0917 AM 12/18 RAWS Roper 9.8 ENE 2.45 in 0915 AM 12/18 CWOP &&
Wind Reports
Wind Gusts
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The graph above is from Cape Lookout and shows as the pressure fell across our area (green line), stronger winds (blue and red lines) occurred across the region. |
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This is a sample of the highest wind gusts. The strongest winds occurred right along the coast and open waters where gusts between 55 and 70 MPH were common. Winds were much lower. See full list below. |
Wind Reports from the Nor'easter
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Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 941 AM EST Mon Dec 18 2023 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS LAST 24 HOURS... Location Speed Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Bath 41 MPH 0635 PM 12/17 DAVIS ...Carteret County... Cape Lookout CMAN 75 MPH 0515 PM 12/17 NDBC Beaufort 64 MPH 0418 PM 12/17 CWOP Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 60 MPH 0535 PM 12/17 ASOS Piney Island (NBT AWOS) 58 MPH 0256 PM 12/17 AWOS Fort Macon (WxFlow) 58 MPH 0525 PM 12/17 WXFLOW North River (WxFlow) 57 MPH 0536 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Beaufort (Duke Marine Lab) 55 MPH 0536 PM 12/17 NOS-NWLON Bogue Field (NJM ASOS) 54 MPH 0333 PM 12/17 AWOS Cedar Island RAWS 50 MPH 0625 PM 12/17 RAWS Newport 7.5 E 46 MPH 0255 PM 12/17 CWOP Morehead City 4.7 W 44 MPH 0530 PM 12/17 CWOP Atlantic Beach 40 MPH 0935 PM 12/17 DAVIS ...Craven County... Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 66 MPH 0334 PM 12/17 AWOS New Bern (EWN ASOS) 49 MPH 0605 PM 12/17 ASOS Havelock 0.7 NW 42 MPH 0355 PM 12/17 CWOP JAMES CITY 41 MPH 0415 PM 12/17 CWOP ...Dare County... Avon (WxFlow) 67 MPH 0942 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Frisco (HSE ASOS) 64 MPH 0622 PM 12/17 ASOS Buxton (WxFlow) 58 MPH 0836 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Real Slick (WxFlow) 55 MPH 0656 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Oregon Inlet CG (WxFlow) 54 MPH 0721 PM 12/17 WXFLOW KHK Resort (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0708 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Nags Head 52 MPH 0620 PM 12/17 CWOP ECU Coastal Studies Institut 51 MPH 0640 PM 12/17 MESOWEST Oregon Inlet (WxFlow) 51 MPH 0758 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS) 49 MPH 0508 PM 12/17 AWOS Dare Bomb Range RAWS 49 MPH 0548 PM 12/17 RAWS Frisco 46 MPH 0630 PM 12/17 DAVIS DVI11679 46 MPH 0705 PM 12/17 DAVIS Rodanthe 0.6 N 46 MPH 0200 AM 12/18 CWOP Buxton RAWS 46 MPH 0730 PM 12/17 RAWS Hatteras High (WxFlow) 46 MPH 0733 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Manteo 0.2 E 45 MPH 0600 PM 12/17 DAVIS Buxton 0.7 SE 45 MPH 1200 AM 12/18 CWOP Oregon Inlet Marina 44 MPH 0112 AM 12/18 NOS-NWLON Manteo (MQI AWOS) 40 MPH 0730 PM 12/17 AWOS ...Hyde County... Engelhard (7W6 AWOS) 40 MPH 0510 PM 12/17 AWOS ...Onslow County... Sneads Ferry 1.7 SE 51 MPH 0345 PM 12/17 CWOP Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 51 MPH 0407 PM 12/17 AWOS Jacksonville 1.7 NNW 48 MPH 0629 PM 12/17 CWOP ...Pamlico County... Oriental 1.7 NE 44 MPH 0730 PM 12/17 CWOP ...Washington County... Tidewater Research Station 42 MPH 0845 PM 12/17 NC-ECONET Creswell 2.6 SSW 41 MPH 0700 PM 12/17 CWOP ...Maritime Stations... Pamlico Sound (WxFlow) 70 MPH 0558 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Diamond Buoy (41025) 69 MPH 0600 PM 12/17 NDBC Onslow Bay Buoy (41064) 67 MPH 0508 AM 12/18 NDBC Frisco Woods (WxFlow) 67 MPH 0636 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Ocracoke 67 MPH 0436 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Jennettes Pier (WxFlow) 62 MPH 0703 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Duck Pier 58 MPH 0712 PM 12/17 NOS-NWLON Avon Sound (WxFlow) 57 MPH 0100 AM 12/18 WXFLOW Crab Point (Wx Flow) 56 MPH 0956 PM 12/17 WXFLOW Croatan Sound (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0634 PM 12/17 WXFLOW &&
Pictures/Social Media
Here are a couple photos of standing water on NC Highway 12 and a parking area near the pony pasture on Ocracoke Island. pic.twitter.com/pCL8WRG44L
— Cape Hatteras National Seashore (@CapeHatterasNPS) December 18, 2023
A few shots from the closed section of NC12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island. We are working to reopen this section of highway sometime later today. pic.twitter.com/Q8KvhuU9H9
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) December 18, 2023
https://t.co/V7VepQygtu webcam image of NC Highway 12 at the north end of Ocracoke Island. pic.twitter.com/aJXkNaGaQL
— Cape Hatteras National Seashore (@CapeHatterasNPS) December 18, 2023
Crews are arriving at the closed sections of NC12 (the north end of Ocracoke Island and between Hatteras and Frisco) to begin clearing and assess damage. The remainder of NC12 is open and passable, with many areas of standing rainwater and blown sand, so please drive carefully. pic.twitter.com/ppQO8DVjRk
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) December 18, 2023
The closed section of NC12 between Hatteras and Frisco will reopen at 4. HOWEVER, as you can see from the photo, there is still deep water in the area... 12" in spots. Drive with extreme caution, and if you have a low clearance vehicle, wait until tomorrow if at all possible. pic.twitter.com/mrTWiXvxmi
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12) December 18, 2023
ðŸŒ§ï¸ Heavy rain in the East resulted in damaging and deadly flash flooding over the last few days. This graphic shows the low track and estimated precipitation with annotated wind gusts, locations of new pressure records, and areas with the worst flash flooding. pic.twitter.com/74wV235YBP
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 19, 2023
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