Contact:  Fire Chief Troy Tilley                                       Date:  March 18, 2021

                252-480-4060                                                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A strong cold front is forecast to cross our area of the Outer Banks that is expected to bring severe weather to Kill Devil Hills later today, including ocean over-wash, coastal flooding, beach erosion and hazardous marine conditions.  Thunderstorms, isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail are also expected.  

Hazardous beach conditions have the potential to last more than several days.  To protect Kill Devil Hills beaches, deter ocean over-wash, and protect property the Town will be closing drive-over beach accesses with barricades and sand pushes.  Closing beach accesses will be completed in the afternoon of March 18th.  Therefore, at 5:00 p.m. today Kill Devil Hills beaches are closed to public beach driving until further notice.  The Town will monitor beach conditions every day and take action to reopen the beaches for driving as soon as conditions are deemed safe.  

Do not take risks with yourself, your vehicle, or with the lives of those that would be called to respond to a rescue situation.  Beach conditions for the next several days are not going to be conducive to activities on the beach, especially beach driving.  

The most up-to-date weather information on this weather event can be obtained at www.weather.gov/mhx, www.facebook/ncdot and on Twitter @NCDOTNC12; or 

Visit driven.org.  

###KDH###