Hurricane Ian (2022) was a unique and challenging storm that brought widespread impacts to eastern North Carolina. Following a relatively slow beginning to the Atlantic Hurricane Season, the tropics began to get more active in mid-September. What would later become Hurricane Ian initially formed as a tropical depression over the central Caribbean on the morning of Friday September 23, strengthening into a Tropical Storm and getting the name Ian later that evening. Ian then tracked south of Jamaica and strengthened into a Hurricane on the morning of Monday September 26th before passing over western Cuba as a Major Hurricane on Tuesday September 27th. Major Hurricane Ian then tracked north-northeastward over the next 36 hours before making landfall on the southwest coast of the Florida Peninsula, bringing catastrophic storm surge and wind impacts to heavily populated areas around Fort Myers, FL.
Ian weakened to a tropical storm briefly as it moved off the east coast of Florida near Cape Canaveral on the morning of Thursday September 29th, but quickly restrengthened to a hurricane later that afternoon as it continued to move northward toward an eventual landfall as a Category 1 hurricane along the central South Carolina coast. It was during this emergence off the Southeast coast that significant local impacts to eastern NC began as Hurricane Ian interacted with a stalled front off the coast and high pressure inland to bring a prolonged period of strong NE winds beginning later in the day on Wednesday September 28th and continuing through Friday September 30th. These strong northeast winds created elevated tide levels and strong northeast swell, which combined with the developing strong southerly swell from the winds in the core of Ian, brought extensive overwash along Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island, and Core Banks. Tide gage observations and spotter reports indicate that around 2 to 4 feet of inundation about ground level were observed across much of the coast south of Cape Hatteras, southern portions of the Pamlico Sound, and tidal portions of the Neuse, Bay, and Pamlico Rivers. Numerous roads were flooded by storm surge and at least partially impassible, including NC 12 on Ocracoke and Hatteras Island, Hwy 70 near the North River Bridge in Carteret County, and several roads Down East Carteret County.
The maximum observed water level of 6.37 ft Mean Lower Low Water at the Beaufort Tide Gage corresponds to approximately 2-3 ft of above ground storm surge inundation and is the 8th highest water level on record for the gage, with records dating back to 1964. Additionally, several tide gauges which are only 1-3 years old set new highest observed benchmarks, including the Trent River at New Bern (since June 2021), Bogue Sound at Emerald Isle (since March 2019), and the Intercoastal Waterway at North Topsail Island (since October 2021). The tide gage at Cedar Island, which has been in place May 2013, recorded its 3rd highest water level on record, though this gauge has experienced extended outages in the past several years. Finally, the Pamlico River at Washington gage experienced the highest water level since Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Additionally, localized wind impacts were observed with isolated tree damage and power outages across eastern NC. Areas of heavy rainfall resulting in storm total rainfall amounts as high as 3-6 inches in places, with some localized fresh water flooding being observed.
Rain Reports
Rainfall Totals
Precipitation Reports from Hurricane Isaias
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 1022 AM EDT Sat Oct 1 2022 ...48 HOUR PRECIPITATION REPORTS FROM IAN... Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Washington 10.5 ESE 5.85 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Washington 3.1 ESE 5.44 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Bunyan RAWS 5.38 in 1013 AM 10/01 RAWS Pantego 0.4 WSW 4.71 in 0615 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Chocowinity 0.2 W 3.87 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Carteret County... Williston 0.9 SW 8.10 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 5.1 NNE 6.64 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 4.2 NW 6.64 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 5.3 N 6.62 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.8 N 6.61 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 6.3 NNW 6.27 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 15.1 N 6.11 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.4 NNW 5.89 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 3.7 NNW 5.58 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 0.5 W 4.91 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 1.5 NE 4.73 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort 1.5 NNW 4.60 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Ocean 0.5 S 4.52 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Swansboro 3.7 NNE 4.35 in 0732 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 0.8 NE 4.33 in 0750 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Newport (WFO MHX) 4.20 in 1200 AM 10/01 COOP Newport 1.7 SSE 4.10 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Peletier 1.6 W 4.10 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cape Carteret 1.0 NNW 4.07 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cedar Point 0.4 WSW 4.06 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cedar Point 0.9 WSW 4.05 in 0529 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Newport 0.2 SW 4.01 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Pine Knoll Shores 1.4 E 3.98 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 3.87 in 0958 AM 10/01 ASOS Cedar Island RAWS 3.85 in 0925 AM 10/01 RAWS Morehead City 5.1 WNW 3.79 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Emerald Isle 2.1 E 3.75 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.1 E 3.75 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Stella 2.5 SE 3.74 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 0.6 NW 3.65 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Indian Beach 0.0 W 3.39 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 2.9 WNW 3.37 in 0708 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Morehead City 5.7 W 3.26 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Croatan RAWS 2.94 in 0948 AM 10/01 RAWS Atlantic Beach 0.6 W 2.47 in 0731 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Craven County... Perrytown (COOP) 3.95 in 0730 AM 10/01 COOP Trent Woods 1.3 SSE 3.95 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 8.8 W 3.88 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Havelock 1.9 SSE 3.83 in 0631 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 7.3 ESE 3.77 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 5.2 SE 3.70 in 0704 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 5.3 SW 3.69 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 7.7 ESE 3.60 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 2.6 SW 3.58 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS River Bend 0.8 ENE 3.55 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 3.8 S 3.48 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 1.5 NW 3.46 in 0916 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Trent Woods 1.0 NNE 3.46 in 0714 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Trent Woods 1.2 ENE 3.36 in 0600 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 1.4 WSW 3.33 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS New Bern 1.3 NNE 3.28 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 2.55 in 0956 AM 10/01 AWOS New Bern RAWS 2.08 in 0917 AM 10/01 RAWS ...Dare County... Southern Shores 0.5 NNE 5.53 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Dbr Soil Monitor 5.51 in 0954 AM 10/01 RAWS Dare Co Gnry Ran (2DP AWOS) 5.04 in 0955 AM 10/01 AWOS Dare Bomb Range RAWS 4.54 in 0928 AM 10/01 RAWS Frisco (HSE ASOS) 4.51 in 0951 AM 10/01 ASOS Duck 3.86 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Manteo 2.8 NW 3.80 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Buxton RAWS 3.34 in 0930 AM 10/01 RAWS Rodanthe 1.0 SSE 3.28 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Kill Devil Hills (FFA AWOS) 2.70 in 1015 AM 10/01 AWOS Manteo (MQI AWOS) 2.59 in 0955 AM 10/01 AWOS ...Duplin County... Albertson 1.2 WNW 3.79 in 0600 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Mount Olive 6.0 SE 3.19 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Wallace 14.8 E 2.97 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Rose Hill 0.1 NNW 2.67 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Mount Olive 2.4 SW 2.55 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Summerlins Crossroads 3 SE 2.53 in 0800 AM 10/01 COOP 1.5 SE Wallace 2.40 in 0600 AM 10/01 UCOOP ...Greene County... Snow Hill 2.84 in 0700 AM 10/01 COOP Snow Hill 3.1 NNE 2.77 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Ayden 6.5 WNW 2.70 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Hookerton 0.5 ESE 2.43 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Hyde County... Engelhard 0.8 NW 4.45 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Ocracoke 0.2 ESE 3.46 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Fairfield RAWS 3.19 in 0917 AM 10/01 RAWS ...Lenoir County... Pink Hill 2.5 NE 3.67 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Kinston 7.0 SW 3.40 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Kinston 4.4 WNW 2.87 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS La Grange 0.9 SW 2.83 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Kinston 1.2 NW 2.77 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Kinston 5.1 WNW 2.64 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Martin County... Williamston 8.9 SSE 4.86 in 0837 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Robersonville 0.0 NNW 4.60 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Jamesville 6.1 SW 4.20 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Onslow County... Jacksonville 4.5 NW 5.00 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville 4.5 NW 4.12 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville (COOP) 4.03 in 0645 AM 10/01 COOP Jacksonville 6.8 NW 3.97 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS 1 NW Pumpkin Center 3.88 in 0900 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Swansboro 3.3 NW 3.76 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Swansboro 2.8 WSW 3.17 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville 1.2 NE 3.12 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Hoffman RAWS 3.11 in 1010 AM 10/01 RAWS Holly Ridge 9.0 ENE 3.06 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Richlands 2.8 NW 3.06 in 0900 AM 10/01 COCORAHS 2 WNW New River Station 2.95 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Sneads Ferry 1.2 SSW 2.88 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Sandy Run RAWS 2.83 in 0919 AM 10/01 RAWS Richlands (OAJ AWOS) 2.78 in 0956 AM 10/01 AWOS Swansboro 1.9 NNW 2.75 in 0845 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 2.39 in 0956 AM 10/01 AWOS ...Pamlico County... Oriental 2.1 WSW 6.16 in 0900 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Bayboro 3 SW 5.83 in 0700 AM 10/01 COOP Merritt 1.5 WSW 5.82 in 0600 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Oriental 4.3 NNW 5.51 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Lowland 0.2 SE 5.36 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Grantsboro 4.6 SSW 4.30 in 0819 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Pitt County... Greenville 5.0 SE 3.87 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Greenville 7.1 SSE 3.69 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Greenville 7.3 SSE 3.66 in 0935 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Greenville 4.7 WNW 3.44 in 0845 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Winterville 1.0 ENE 3.44 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Greenville (COOP) 3.40 in 1200 AM 10/01 COOP Greenville 5.7 NW 3.33 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Winterville 3.5 W 3.01 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Fountain 0.1 NE 2.73 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Winterville 2.6 ENE 2.11 in 0630 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Greenville 1.4 SE 2.10 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Winterville 2.8 WNW 2.07 in 0900 AM 10/01 COCORAHS ...Tyrrell County... Columbia 0.8 NNE 7.21 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Gum Neck (COOP) 4.03 in 0640 AM 10/01 COOP ...Washington County... Roper 2.4 NE 5.77 in 0700 AM 10/01 COCORAHS Pocosin Lakes RAWS 3.53 in 0917 AM 10/01 RAWS ...Maritime Stations... Washington 1.0 SSW 5.27 in 0800 AM 10/01 COCORAHS
Wind Reports
Wind Gusts
Wind Reports from Hurricane Isaias
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 323 AM EDT Sat Oct 1 2022 ...UPDATED HIGHEST WIND REPORTS OVER THE LAST 24 HOUR FROM IAN... Location Speed Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Beaufort County... Belhaven 1.8 SW 43 MPH 0527 PM 09/30 CWOP ...Carteret County... Piney Island (NBT AWOS) 53 MPH 0541 AM 09/30 AWOS Fort Macon (WxFlow) 50 MPH 0718 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Beaufort 49 MPH 0215 PM 09/30 CWOP Bogue Field (NJM ASOS) 48 MPH 0710 AM 09/30 AWOS Beaufort (Duke Marine Lab) 48 MPH 0248 PM 09/30 NOS-NWLON Cape Lookout 47 MPH 0300 PM 09/30 NDBC Emerald Isle 43 MPH 0540 PM 09/30 DAVIS Newport 7.5 E 42 MPH 0400 PM 09/30 CWOP Atlantic Beach 0.4 E 41 MPH 0615 AM 09/30 CWOP Beaufort (MRH ASOS) 41 MPH 0329 PM 09/30 ASOS Morehead City 4.7 W 40 MPH 0330 PM 09/30 CWOP ...Craven County... Cherry Point (NKT ASOS) 49 MPH 0426 PM 09/30 AWOS New Bern (EWN ASOS) 41 MPH 0127 PM 09/30 ASOS ...Dare County... Oregon Inlet CG (WxFlow) 57 MPH 0703 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Avon (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0605 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Buxton (WxFlow) 48 MPH 0812 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Nags Head 47 MPH 0701 AM 09/30 CWOP Real Slick (WxFlow) 46 MPH 0951 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Oregon Inlet (WxFlow) 46 MPH 1059 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Frisco (HSE ASOS) 46 MPH 1255 PM 09/30 ASOS KHK Resort (WxFlow) 45 MPH 0637 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Rodanthe 0.6 N 45 MPH 0855 AM 09/30 CWOP Ecu Coastal Studies Institut 42 MPH 0930 AM 09/30 MESOWEST Hatteras High (WxFlow) 41 MPH 0813 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Oregon Inlet Marina 41 MPH 1100 AM 09/30 NOS-NWLON Manteo (MQI AWOS) 40 MPH 1235 PM 09/30 AWOS ...Duplin County... Kenansville (DPL AWOS) 40 MPH 0315 PM 09/30 AWOS ...Onslow County... Jacksonville (NCA ASOS) 52 MPH 0435 PM 09/30 AWOS ...Washington County... Roper 9.8 ENE 43 MPH 0445 PM 09/30 CWOP ...Maritime Stations... Jennettes Pier (WxFlow) 63 MPH 0838 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Alligator River Br (WxFlow) 61 MPH 1243 PM 09/30 WXFLOW Duck Pier 58 MPH 0218 PM 09/30 NOS-NWLON Ocracoke (WxFlow) 56 MPH 0649 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Diamond Buoy (41025) 54 MPH 1010 AM 09/30 NDBC Pamlico Sound (WxFlow) 53 MPH 0856 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Avon Sound (WxFlow) 52 MPH 0543 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Frisco Woods (WxFlow) 51 MPH 0828 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Roanoke Sound Channel (WxFlo 47 MPH 1130 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Croatan Sound 44 MPH 1145 AM 09/30 WXFLOW Manteo 40 MPH 1035 AM 09/30 DAVIS
Waterspouts
At approximately 2 PM on Tuesday September 30, a waterspout occurred on the western Bogue Sound. This photograph was taken from the Bogue Watch neighborhood. There were no indications that this waterspout impacted land.
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Satellite
Pictures/Social Media
We were out and about this morning checking on #NewBern's streets, the Neuse and Trent Rivers and their tributaries. Here's the video of Brices Creek Boat Ramp/Dock across from Merchant's Grocery taken at 9:30 a.m. today, Sept. 30, 2022. More footage to come ... pic.twitter.com/xEyuCcJ9WB
— New Bern Now (@NewBernNow) September 30, 2022
Water is already rushing into Union Park in New Bern. It’s only going to get worse so stay off the roads! @WITN pic.twitter.com/bD7TWfCIWh
— Justin Odell Lundy (@_JustinLundyTV) September 30, 2022
A Family Member sent me these following pics of #Beaufort #Waterfront #NC #NorthCarolina earlier today. #1 of 4 pic.twitter.com/DuYE4yPOk5
— Angel (@MsCeeAngel) September 30, 2022
Strong winds just tore the metal siding off of this gas station in Kinston, NC right after I pulled up. Almost struck a passing car. pic.twitter.com/mbFYjuuxdc
— Zay ⛈ (@stormchaserzay) September 30, 2022