Weather alert in place for Ocracoke Island early Wednesday evening, says the NWS

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The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued a weather alert at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday for strong thunderstorms until 4:30 p.m. for Ocracoke Island.

Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

"At 3:30 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 10 miles northeast of Ocracoke Ferry Terminal, or 15 miles west of Frisco, moving south at 15 mph," says the NWS. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects."

The alert is for Ocracoke Lighthouse and Ocracoke Ferry Terminal.

According to the NWS, "Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service."

This alert is in effect until 4:30 p.m.

What to do as threat of lightning approaches?

Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually. The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS. The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. This risk decreases as the storm moves away.

Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm:

• To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
• If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
• Once indoors, avoid touching corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside.

If finding indoor shelter is not an option:

• Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
• Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects. If in a forest, stay close to lower trees.
• If you are with a group, fan out to stop the current from transmitting between members.
• If you are camping in an open space, choose a valley, ravine, or low area for your campsite. Remember, tents do not shield you from lightning.
• Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects. While water and metal do not draw lightning, they are proficient conductors of electricity.

Rainy weather driving tips

• Turn on your headlights - Even when it's light outside, using headlights can improve visibility and alert other drivers to your presence.
• On the road - Drive in the middle lanes and stay on high ground. Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.
• Avoid puddles - Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
• Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
• Avoid flooded areas - When encountering a flooded road, do a U-turn and head back. The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways. Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is when a vehicle starts uncontrollably sliding on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. Hydroplaning is primarily caused by three factors:

1. Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
2. Water depth - The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn't matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.
3. Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

• Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
• Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control.
• Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
• Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots North Carolina

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM.