Wild weather: NC coast water levels jump as intense thunderstorms approach Outer Banks

Rodney Overton
·2 min read

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCN) – National Weather Service officials on Sunday are pointing out a “weather phenomena” that happened at the North Carolina Outer Banks early Sunday morning.

A mass of intense thunderstorms that moved in line with the coastline of the Pamlico Sound suddenly pushed water levels across the sound up a half-foot, the National Weather Service in Morehead City said.

The line of thunderstorms was moving toward the east around 1:45 a.m. Sunday when tide gauges detected the strange occurrence.

The line of thunderstorms as they approach the Outer Banks early Sunday morning.
The line of thunderstorms as they approach the Outer Banks early Sunday morning.

“The gusty, shifting winds caused a rapid water rise of around half a foot at Ocracoke and Hatteras,” forecasters at the weather service wrote.

While the actual increase was small, it happened during low tide — and stood out on tide gauges at Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Weather experts said the sudden rise in water levels was not likely caused by high winds.

“This phenomenon was likely caused by rapid changes in pressure associated with the advancing line of thunderstorms,” the National Weather Service said.

National Weather Service graphic showing the storms and water levels suddenly rising as the storms hit.
National Weather Service graphic showing the storms and water levels suddenly rising as the storms hit.

CBS 17 Storm Team Meteorologist Lance Blocker said he learned about low-pressure impacts on water during college.

“Imagine pressing down on a balloon which is filled with air. Your hand is the weight of high air pressure acting on the balloon. The air is squeezed, and the balloon becomes flat,” Blocker said. “Now, imagine you stop pressing on the balloon. The air inside can spread out, and the balloon immediately puffs up. Low air pressure has the same effect on the ocean — it allows the water to rise up a bit because there’s less force pushing it down.”

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