Coastal storm affects Eastern Carolina

The coastal storm forming off the North Carolina coast is already bringing rain to much of Eastern Carolina and conditions are expected to get worse for some areas.

Rain and small gusts of wind on Friday give way to a bigger threat on Saturday. Experts at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences have been creating models for hurricanes and coastal storms like we're dealing with for years.

They say the strong North-Eastern winds associated with this system could bring water levels up anywhere from 4 to 6 or 7 feet depending on where you are.

Dr. Rick Luettich says once the winds pick up Saturday, parts of the Outer Banks and the Pamlico Sound, as well as the lower Neuse River, will see their greatest impacts further up the coast. They expect those impacts to be felt on Sunday.

The Outer Banks, including down to Cedar Island, could see some of those higher water numbers and parts of the Pamlico Sound and lower Neuse River. That includes New Bern and Pamlico County seeing water levels go up an average of 4 feet higher.