OUTER BANKS, N.C. — Ocean overwash, produced in part by a coastal storm, posed an issue for roadways on the Outer Banks this week. Crews reopened sand-blown N.C. Highway 12 Thursday at noon after clearing the road of sand and water and rebuilding dunes, but officials warned that the 5 p.m. high tide poses a closure threat for the water-and-sand plagued road.
The roadway had been closed since Tuesday morning before reopening Thursday.
A low-pressure weather system caused strong winds and rough surf in the area, leading to ocean overwash on Highway 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe. Even nearby areas considered passable had deep sand and water.
High tide seemed to squash any plans of reopening the roadway earlier.
"Unfortunately, safety concerns surrounding the severity of the next two high tide cycles are preventing us from reopening NC12 today," officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation said Wednesday. "Our crews now have their sights set on mid-morning Thursday."
Two beach houses collapsed into the ocean Tuesday at Cape Hatteras National Seashore as the coastal storm system churned. After the first house fell during the early morning hours, officials warned that more structures could also fall.
Both homes that crumbed were unoccupied.
Related story: A second beach house collapses into ocean on Outer Banks
In February, a five-bedroom house collapsed along Ocean Drive, and it could be a sign that the beach erosion rate is increasing. The home was empty when the ocean claimed it, and no one was hurt.
“Unfortunately, there may be more houses that collapse onto Seashore beaches in the near future,” said David Hallac, superintendent for National Parks of Eastern North Carolina. “We proactively reached out to homeowners along Ocean Drive in Rodanthe after the first house collapse and recommended that actions be taken to prevent collapse and impacts to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”
The coastal storm also forced ferry service to be suspended, but they have since resumed.
Related story: Ocean overwash concerns return to the Outer Banks this week