A strong Nor'easter brought widespread heavy rainfall, isolated flash flooding, high winds, severe weather and significant coastal flooding to portions of Eastern North Carolina. A few of the more notable impacts were flash flooding, significant ocean over wash on the Outer Banks, high winds of 60-70 mph, and a low pressure record for December at Cape Hatteras (984 MB).
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MHX wrote it up.
A strong Nor'easter brought widespread heavy rainfall, isolated flash flooding, high winds, severe weather and significant coastal flooding to portions of Eastern North Carolina. A few of the more notable impacts were flash flooding, significant ocean over wash on the Outer Banks, high winds of 60-70 mph, and a low pressure record for December at Cape Hatteras (984 MB).
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 17, 7:00 AM EST, 7 hours 10 minutes earlier.
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</html>The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:40 UTC.
6 flash flood, 3 high wind, 3 thunderstorm wind, 3 coastal flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Weatherflow in Ocracoke measured a 67 mph peak wind gust at 4:36 pm EST. Widespread wind gusts of 60-65 mph were common.
The Weatherflow in Atlantic, NC measured a 67 mph peak wind gust at 6:01 pm EST. Widespread wind gusts of 60-65 mph were common around Eastern Carteret County.
Jones-Onslow Electrical COOP reports over 500 customers without power around Duplin County due to fallen trees and limbs.
The Weatherflow in Avon, NC measured a 67 mph peak wind gust at 9:42 pm EST. The Weatherflow in Frisco, NC also measured a 67 mph peak wind gust at 6:36 pm EST. Widespread wind gusts of 60-65 mph were common on Hatteras Island.
NC Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island was closed due to severe ocean overwash and safety. The closure was between the pony pen and the ferry dock. Coastal flooding peaked during the late evening and early morning hours.
NC Highway 12 north of Hatteras village was closed due to severe ocean overwash and multiple dune breaches. The closure was between Sandpiper Lane to the north and Elizabeth DR SR1272 to the south.
Strong southeast winds pushed water toward the western end of Pamlico Sound and up the Pamlico River, causing flooding in Washington. Water levels peaked at just after 8:00 pm EST.
Jones/Onslow Electric Cooperative reported limbs on powerlines resulting in power outages for the Swan Point community of Sneads Ferry. The time was based on radar data.
Duke Progress Energy reports 67 customers without power in the Deppe area. The outage was caused by fallen trees or limbs damaging equipment.
Car stranded in the water on Sam Miller Road, water rescue ongoing.
Law enforcement reported a couple of water rescues along Highway 117 between Warsaw and Magnolia.
Water across the road along Highway 50 and Highway 117. Multiple cars stuck in water across the county.
The Faison FD/EMS had 4 water rescues.
Water across Albritton Road, making it impassable.
Water across Albritton Road, making it impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, December 2023
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1151944, 1151943, 1151939, 1151945, 1151958, 1151959, 1151971, 1151940, 1151941, 1152237, 1152238, 1152239, 1152240, 1152241, 1152242.