Severe Weather Potential - Friday | Eastern North Carolina Now

        Good Morning Everyone,

    Our office is currently monitoring the forecast of another approaching low-pressure system that is expected to bring elevated winds, hazardous marine conditions a brief period of severe storms to many areas along Eastern NC this weekend. Please know that this is a very dynamic weather system with an evolving forecast. The current forecast for Beaufort County includes:

    Rain

• Rain chances will increase after 7pm Friday and continue through mid-morning, with most areas currently forecasted to receive 1/4 to 1/2" of an inch.

    Winds

• Our forecasted winds will transition through various intensities and direction as follows:
• Friday 1pm - 8pm: SE winds sustained between 10 and 15 mph with frequent gust of 20 to 25 mph.
• Friday 9pm - Saturday 1am: South winds sustained between 15 and 20 mph with frequent gusts of 30 to 35 mph.
• Saturday 2am - 6am: SW winds between 15 and 20 mph with frequent gusts of 25 to 35 mph.
• Saturday 7am - Sunday 1am: West winds sustained between 15 and 25 mph with frequent gusts of 25 to 35 mph.

    Flooding

• Most of our county's shoreline communities will experience 10 to 12 hrs of elevated water levels Friday evening as we endure SE and south winds. While surge amounts have yet to be included in the forecast, our office would not be surprised to see references of inundation levels ranging between 1 and 3 feet above normally dry ground in future updates.
• Water levels will then reverse and be below normal on Saturday as west winds pull water from most of our waterways.

    Severe Storms

• Severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and isolated tornados will be possible between 7pm and midnight Friday.

    What To Watch For

• Again, there are a lot of factors playing into the forecast of this approaching system and many of the details remain unclear. We encourage everyone to be paying particular attention to the following potentials:
• Increasing Wind Gust Values - The latest forecast trends suggest that wind gusts could increase for our area Friday night and into Saturday morning.

    Please see the email below and attached briefing from the National Weather Service (NWS) for additional information. Our office will continue to pass along updates we receive them.

    As always, we thank you all for what you do to keep Beaufort County informed, prepared and safe.


   Chris Newkirk
   Deputy Director
   Beaufort County Emergency Services
   1420 Highland Dr
   Washington, NC 27889
   Office: (252)940-6511
   Cell: (252) 378-5352


    Good Morning,

    We are expecting strong to severe thunderstorms, strong winds, dangerous marine conditions, and minor coastal flooding for Eastern NC Friday evening into Saturday (January 12-13th).

    Attached is a one-page briefing for the event. The next briefing will be sent out by 6 PM today (Thursday).

    If you have any questions or need anything else, please let us know!

NWS_Morehead_City_Briefing_1_Strong_cold_front_Jan_12th_13th_2024.pdf

    Regards,

    NWS Newport/Morehead City


   NOAA - National Weather Service
   Newport/Morehead City, NC Weather Forecast Office
   533 Roberts Rd
   Newport, NC 28570