NC 12 shut down near the Basnight Bridge over the Oregon Inlet to all southbound traffic as Hurricane Erin makes its closest pass to the Outer Banks.

Officials predict N.C. 12 will become impassable in sections with the evening’s high tide around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday.

See the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the U.S. Plan your visit for the fall, when the temperatures are still mild and the summer tourists have left. “There are things we just don't have here,

NCDOT officials said "given the winds, wave heights and storm surge forecast, it likely won't be enough" to keep NC 12 from flooding at the Outer Banks.

Several days of heavy surf and high winds and waves could wash out parts of NC 12, which connects the popular vacation spot to the mainland, the National Weather Service said.

In a 10 On Your Side interview with Drew Pearson, director of emergency management for Dare County, he shares what he expects the impacts of Hurricane Erin to be on the Outer Banks while talking about the danger of storm surge.

Dare County officials declared a state of emergency Sunday evening as they say Hurricane Erin is forecast to bring life-threatening impacts to the Outer Banks.

The NCDOT shut down all lanes of the highway on Ocracoke Island between the Northern Ferry Terminal and the National Park Service Pony Pens last night until further notice. Lanes will also stay closed on Hatteras Island from the Marc Basnight Bridge to Hatteras Village.

The NWS Newport/Morehead City NC issued an updated tropical storm watch at 10:41 p.m. on Monday in effect until Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. for Hatteras Island.

Hurricane Erin battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks with strong winds and waves that flooded part of the main highway, damaged a waterside motel and swirled under beachfront