Alert archive / North Carolina / Rip Current Statements in 2012

Rip Current Statement 1, NWS Wilmington, NC

May 25, 2012Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina; Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this rip current statement at May 25, 2012, 3:55 PM EDT for Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina; Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina. It took effect at May 26, 2012, 7:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 37 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 25, 2012, 3:55 PM EDT (19:55 UTC)
In effect from
May 26, 2012, 7:00 AM EDT
Expired
May 27, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
37 hr
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC

Counties Brunswick County, NC, New Hanover County, NC, Pender County, NC, Georgetown County, SC, Horry County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 3 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:56 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Newport, NC (KMHX), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 168 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-05-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 634 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-05-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -22 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
634 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-32 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
741 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
3 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-22 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-37 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

536 
WHUS42 KILM 251955
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
355 PM EDT FRI MAY 25 2012


NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-261000-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0001.120526T1100Z-120527T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
355 PM EDT FRI MAY 25 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH RIP
CURRENT RISK...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING.

* LOCATION...ALL BEACHES FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO WINYAH
  BAY SOUTH CAROLINA.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH.

* SURF HEIGHT...3 TO 5 FT FOR PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY
  BEACHES...AROUND 3 FT AT BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES...AND AROUND 4
  FT AT HORRY AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES.

* TIMING AND TIDES...HIGH TIDE WILL PEAK JUST AFTER NOON ON
  SATURDAY...WITH LOW TIDE PEAKING EARLY SATURDAY EVENING. THE
  STRONGEST RIP CURRENTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN 2 HOURS ON EITHER SIDE
  OF LOW TIDE.

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A MODERATE TO STRONG NORTH TO
  SOUTH LONGSHORE CURRENT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. 

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS. 

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
4 follow-up statements
887 
WHUS42 KILM 260837
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
437 AM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-270000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0001.120526T1100Z-120527T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
437 AM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* LOCATION...ALL BEACHES FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO WINYAH 
  BAY SOUTH CAROLINA. 

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH.

* SURF HEIGHT...3 TO 5 FT FOR PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY 
  BEACHES...AROUND 3 FT AT BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES...AND AROUND 4 
  FT AT HORRY AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES. 

* TIMING AND TIDES...HIGH TIDE WILL PEAK JUST AFTER NOON ON 
  SATURDAY...WITH LOW TIDE PEAKING EARLY SATURDAY EVENING. THE 
  STRONGEST RIP CURRENTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN 2 HOURS ON EITHER SIDE 
  OF LOW TIDE. 

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A MODERATE TO STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH 
  LONGSHORE CURRENT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
727 
WHUS42 KILM 262015
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
415 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-271000-
/O.EXT.KILM.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-120528T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
415 PM EDT SAT MAY 26 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

* LOCATION...ALL BEACHES FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO WINYAH 
  BAY SOUTH CAROLINA. 

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH.

* SURF HEIGHT...4 TO 5 FT FOR PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY
  BEACHES...AROUND 4 FT AT BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES...AND 3 TO 4 FT
  AT HORRY AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES.

* TIMING AND TIDES...LOW TIDE WILL OCCUR AROUND 7 AM SUNDAY
  MORNING...AND AROUND 7 PM EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. THE STRONGEST
  RIP CURRENTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN 2 HOURS ON EITHER SIDE OF LOW
  TIDE.

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A MODERATE TO STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH 
  LONGSHORE CURRENT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
537 
WHUS42 KILM 270931
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
531 AM EDT SUN MAY 27 2012

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-280000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-120528T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
531 AM EDT SUN MAY 27 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* LOCATION...ALL BEACHES FROM SURF CITY NORTH CAROLINA TO WINYAH 
  BAY SOUTH CAROLINA. 

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH.

* SURF HEIGHT...4 TO 5 FT FOR PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY 
  BEACHES...AROUND 4 FT AT BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES...AND 3 TO 4 FT 
  AT HORRY AND GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES. 

* TIMING AND TIDES...LOW TIDE WILL OCCUR AROUND 7 AM SUNDAY 
  MORNING...AND AROUND 7 PM EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. THE STRONGEST RIP 
  CURRENTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN 2 HOURS ON EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE. 

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A MODERATE TO STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH 
  LONGSHORE CURRENT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS...JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
404 
WHUS42 KILM 280015
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
815 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK HAS EXPIRED...

WINDS AND SEAS HAVE ABATED AND THE THREAT OF STRONG RIP CURRENTS
HAS ENDED.

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-280115-
/O.EXP.KILM.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-120528T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
815 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 2012

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK HAS EXPIRED...

WINDS AND SEAS HAVE ABATED AND THE THREAT OF STRONG RIP CURRENTS
HAS ENDED. ALTHOUGH THE THREAT HAS ENDED...THERE WILL STILL BE A
MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY. THE STRONGEST RIP 
CURRENTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN 2 HOURS ON EITHER SIDE OF LOW
TIDE...WHICH WILL BE AROUND 730 AM SUNDAY MORNING...AND AROUND 800
PM SUNDAY EVENING.

$$

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 4:40 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryILM4 days
May 25, 1:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMPender43 min
May 25, 2:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBrunswick47 min

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in North Carolina, 2012Rip Current Statements in South Carolina, 2012Every rip current statement in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.