Threat of multiple homes collapsing forces Outer Banks beach closure, NC park says

A stretch of beach along Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been closed by the National Park Service due to fears of multiple homes collapsing into the Atlantic.

The alert was issued Tuesday and remains in effect through Saturday, April 11, officials said.

“There is the potential for multi-day, persistent northeast winds and breaking waves. This could cause coastal erosion and the partial or full collapse of one or more threatened oceanfront structures in Buxton and Rodanthe,” the National Park Service says.

“The entire beach in front of the village of Buxton is closed due to public safety hazards associated with the presence of threatened oceanfront structures in or near the ocean. The proximity of these structures to Seashore lands poses a serious risk to visitors walking along the beach or wading in the surf.”

A section of beach is also closed south of Buxton, to the off-road vehicle ramp 43, officials said.

The National Weather Service says strong winds could generate breaking waves of 8 feet causing dune erosion and road overwash.

Rising sea level and advancing coastal erosion have left entire neighborhoods standing in the surf in communities like Buxton and Rodanthe.

As a result, 31 privately-owned houses have collapsed at Cape Hatteras since 2020. In each case, currents carried the nail-filled debris for miles, resulting in dangerous beach conditions.

Buxton is about a 240-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 6:19 AM with the headline "Threat of multiple homes collapsing forces Outer Banks beach closure, NC park says."