Cape Hatteras Coverage

'Real concern': Hatteras resident describes washout conditions at Outer Banks

WRAL's Ken Smith spoke with an Outer Banks resident about the poor conditions there.

High surf in Outer Banks exposes debris, leeching contaminants into sand

A stretch of beach in Cape Hatteras is closed due to petroleum contamination suspected to be from Cold War-era Navy infrastructure.

Petroleum smell along Buxton beach under investigation

A stretch of beach in Cape Hatteras is closed due to petroleum contamination suspected to be from Cold War-era Navy infrastructure.

NC 12 reopens in Outer Banks after deadly crash

A 7-mile stretch of N.C. Highway 12 in Ocracoke Island has reopened after a deadly crash.

18-month restoration project begins to rehabilitate Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The $19.2 million project will rehabilitate the interior and restore the exterior of the lighthouse, repair and replace deteriorated materials and finishes and provide landscape improvements.

WRAL staff

Cape Hatteras lighthouse getting LED lights in $19.2 million facelift

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is getting a $19.2 million facelift, including new LED lights and repairs to the exterior and interior.

WITN Web Team

42-foot boat named Turn Back crashes into Cape Hatteras beach

A 42-foot boat named Turn Back crashed on the beach Wednesday morning at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, approximately one mile north of Oregon Inlet.

Arri Woodhouse, WRAL contributor

Woman dies in drowning from harsh waves on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

A woman has died in an apparent drowning on the Outer Banks of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

WITN Web Team

Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry feeling pinch from less funding

This summer, the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry fuel budget evaporated by the end of the fiscal year. It's operating on a reduced summer schedule.

Budget battle means rough seas for NC's most popular ferry route

The ongoing budget battle in Raleigh is creating waves on our coast.The Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry is usually the state's hottest route, carrying about 250,000 people a year. The route is an economic lifeline to residents in the tiny town. But this summer, that lifeline is on life support.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Investigates reporter

Today in history: Hatteras weather station got distress call from sinking Titanic

On April 14 in 1912, the Titanic famously sent a distress telegram to the Weather Bureau Station in Hatteras.

WITN staff

New 'Ocracoke Express' passenger ferry launches for 2022 season

Beginning May 17, a new ferry deemed the Ocracoke Express will be available to transport passengers on a 70-minute trip between Hatteras and Silver Lake Harbor in Ocracoke Village.

National Park Service recruiting Ocracoke Light Station volunteers

The NPS is looking for an Ocracoke Interpretation Volunteer based out of the Ocracoke Island District within Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Cory Dinkel, WRAL multiplatform producer

Fuel to be removed from vessel grounded on Ocracoke

The U.S. Coast Guard will oversee the removal of fuel oil from a grounded 55-foot yacht on a Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the coming days, the National Park Service said Friday.

Coastal Review Online

37-foot sailing vessel grounds along Cape Hatteras National Seashore

A 37-foot sailing vessel was grounded along Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Saturday morning.

Cape Hatteras breaks record for visitors in a year

2021 is a record year for tourism at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Two-headed sea turtle found at NC coast during nest excavation

An unusual sight, for most, was discovered at the North Carolina coast recently - a two-headed sea turtle.

Ryan Bisesi, WRAL multiplatform producer

Outer Banks set for massive beach nourishment project

Close to $100 million will be spent to build up the beaches in the Outer Banks in the most expensive single year of beach nourishment in Dare County history.

Keenan Willard, WRAL Reporter

Virginia fisherman drowns off coast of Hatteras Island

A 46-year-old man from Falls Church, Virginia drowned off the coast of Hatteras Island on Friday night.

Cargo ship helps rescue two off the coast of Hatteras Inlet

Two people were rescued from a fishing boat more the an 300 miles off the coast of Hatteras Inlet on Saturday morning.

Four people dead after condo fire on Hatteras Island

Four people died in a large fire that broke out at a condominium in Buxton early Friday, authorities said.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multimedia producer

Officials detonate unexploded WWII aerial bomb that washed ashore at Cape Hatteras

A Cape Hatteras resident found a large metal object that appeared to be a torpedo or bomb on shore Thursday morning.

Woman lost, then found, twice over the same weekend

Officials who found a woman who had been lost had to search for her again early Saturday after they said she got lost again.

Jason O. Boyd, Multiplatform producer

Popularity of Outer Banks beaches prompts lifeguards to remain through September

Lifeguards will stay on duty at three popular Cape Hatteras beaches in the Outer Banks through the end of September.

Cape Hatteras saw most June visitors in 18 years

Almost 400,000 people visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore in June 2020, the second-highest number of June visitors since 1953 and an increase of almost 4% over last year.