Seems a bit extreme for a tropical storm.
I don’t think it will be a tropical storm for much longer.
Ever been to the Outer Banks? It doesn’t take much of a storm surge to wreak havoc on the islands and there are limited exits to the mainland. I vacationed there several times during the years I lived in Raleigh. LOVE the islands. I hope they get through this ok.
Keep in mind Sandy was a tropical storm when it flooded NJ.
Some stretches of OBX you can tee up a golf ball at the surf and hit the sound with a three wood. Height, is 3-4 ft max and the storm surge is...3-4 ft. Dry land is either 30 miles west [or 3,000 miles east]. U don’t want to be out there be it tropical storm or Cat 1 hurricane