UPDATE: Winter storm arriving tonight

Published 6:25 pm Thursday, February 20, 2020

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The National Weather Service has issued a series of advisories for a winter coastal storm.

For northern Dare County, a winter weather advisory is in place. Up to an inch of snow is possible.

For Tyrrell County and the Hyde County mainland, a Winter Storm Warning is posted. In Columbia, 3 to 4 inches of snow is forecast to start between 8 and 11 tonight. In Engelhard, 2 to 3 inches of snow may fall.

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For western Currituck County and Knotts Island, a Winter Storm Warning is posted until Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 a.m. The National Weather service predicts mixed rain and snow. Snow may be moderate to heavy at times Thursday evening. Total snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches is expected.

For the northern Outer Banks and Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, a wind advisory is in place for this evening through Friday afternoon. North winds will blow 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 52.

For Hatteras Island north of Cape Hatteras, a high surf advisory is posted from late Thursday night to 1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected in the surf zone.

For soundside Hatteras Island south of Buxton and Ocracoke Island, a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 through 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21. One to two feet of inundation above normally dry ground is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.

Wintry precipitation is expected to taper off between 9 and 11 a.m. Friday morning.

Bitterly cold weather, around 20 degrees, is expected inland. In Tyrrell and Hyde mainland areas, the temperatures will drop to as low as 25 degrees. For the Outer Banks, temperatures will hover just below freezing.

The National Weather Service cautions that anything wet will freeze Friday night, producing very hazardous driving.

All Dare County Schools are canceled on Friday, Feb. 21 for all staff and students.

Mattamuskeet schools will be closed Friday for students with an optional teacher work day for staff starting at 10 a.m. “If any staff member feels it is not safe to drive to campus, please contact your school administrator,” stated the announcement from Hyde County Schools.

All Tyrrell County Schools will be closed Friday and will operate on a “mandatory annual leave” day for staff.

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