Hazardous road conditions created by Winter Storm Riley as it roared up the Atlantic Coast left Hatteras and Ocracoke islands at Cape Hatteras National Seashore inaccessible Sunday.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has closed North Carolina 12 from the Bonner Bridge to Rodanthe due to overwash hazards, and suspended ferry operations to Ocracoke Island. You can check the latest conditions at this site.
Other areas of North Carolina and side roads may also have hazardous driving conditions that should be avoided, the National Park Service cautioned Sunday in a release.
"The Atlantic Ocean has over-washed the dunes in multiple locations along both Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. High surf conditions have resulted in extremely hazardous conditions on and directly behind beaches," the agency added. "Walking and driving on beaches is not recommended until hazardous conditions subside later this week. Potentially hazardous ocean debris may wash ashore and buried items may be exposed during storm conditions."
Cargo containers have been recently lost from a cargo vessel off the North Carolina coast, the Park Service said. Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors should report sightings of cargo containers either offshore or on the beach to Dare County’s non-emergency line at 252-473-3444.