Special Marine Warning Issued for Coastal North Carolina Waters

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City NC has issued a Special Marine Warning for several coastal and inland water regions in North Carolina. This alert is effective immediately following the detection of a fast-moving front.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following maritime regions:

• Neuse and Bay Rivers
• South of Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Lookout (out to 20 nm)
• South of Cape Lookout to Surf City (out to 20 nm)
• Waters from Cape Lookout to Surf City (from 20 to 40 nm)

Specific locations impacted include Salter Path, Ar342, Ar320, the vicinity of Highway 24-17 Bridge, Ar345, Cape Lookout Bight, Ar330, the Morehead City-Atlantic Beach Bridge, the vicinity of Sneads Ferry Bridge, Atlantic Beach, the center of Bogue Sound, Northwest Places, Beaufort Inlet, the vicinity of Pine Knoll Shores, Bogue Inlet, R-8 Buoy, Ar355, the vicinity of Emerald Isle Bridge, Beaufort, and Emerald Isle.

What You Should Do

Mariners are urged to move to safe harbor immediately. Hazardous weather, including gusty winds and high waves, is expected to impact the area. Small craft should remain in port or seek shelter until conditions improve to avoid potential damage.

Expected Conditions

At 1:52 PM EDT, a front was located along a line extending from Surf City to near School House Reef, moving east at 45 knots. Expected hazards include wind gusts to nearly 50 knots and a quick wind shift from southwest to northwest. These conditions are likely to result in suddenly higher waves.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 1:53 PM EDT on March 12 and is scheduled to remain in effect until 2:45 PM EDT on March 12.