Alert archive / North Carolina / Rip Current Statements in 2015

Rip Current Statement 2, NWS Wilmington, NC

May 6, 2015Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this rip current statement at May 6, 2015, 3:31 PM EDT for Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina. It took effect at May 7, 2015, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 6, 2015, 3:31 PM EDT (19:31 UTC)
In effect from
May 7, 2015, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
May 7, 2015, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
12 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 19:33 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, 7.5 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 2015-05-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2015-05-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1029 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
2 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
7 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.

078 
WHUS42 KILM 061931
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
331 PM EDT WED MAY 6 2015


NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-070345-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0002.150507T1200Z-150508T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
331 PM EDT WED MAY 6 2015

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

...STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE CURRENT THURSDAY...

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

* LOCATION...ALL AREA BEACHES.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ALL BEACHES.

* SURF HEIGHT...4 TO 6 FEET.

* TIMING AND TIDES...THE BEST TIME FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL BE AN
  HOUR OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL OCCUR AROUND 4 PM
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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...BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY. 



$$
43
4 follow-up statements
300 
WHUS42 KILM 070317
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
1117 PM EDT WED MAY 6 2015

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-071100-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.150507T1200Z-150508T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
1117 PM EDT WED MAY 6 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THURSDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
...STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE CURRENT THURSDAY...

* LOCATION...ALL AREA BEACHES.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ALL BEACHES.

* SURF HEIGHT...4 TO 6 FEET.

* TIMING AND TIDES...THE BEST TIME FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL BE AN HOUR 
  OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL OCCUR AROUND 4 PM 
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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...BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

$$

9
301 
WHUS42 KILM 070925
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
525 AM EDT THU MAY 7 2015

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-071730-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.150507T1200Z-150508T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
525 AM EDT THU MAY 7 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE CURRENT AND ROUGH SURF
CONDITIONS EXPECTED...

* LOCATION...ALL AREA BEACHES.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ALL BEACHES.

* SURF HEIGHT...4 TO 6 FEET.

* TIMING AND TIDES...THE BEST TIME FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL BE AN
  HOUR OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL OCCUR AROUND 4
  PM TODAY.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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...BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

$$

04
813 
WHUS42 KILM 072041
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
441 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2015


NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-081030-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0003.150508T1100Z-150509T0000Z/
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-150508T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
441 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...
...STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE CURRENT AND ROUGH SURF
CONDITIONS EXPECTED...

* LOCATION...ALL AREA BEACHES.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ALL BEACHES.

* SURF HEIGHT...6 TO 7 FEET AT THE PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY
  BEACHES...AND AROUND 5 FEET AT THE BRUNSWICK...HORRY AND
  GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES

* TIMING AND TIDES...THE BEST TIME FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL BE AN
  HOUR OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL OCCUR AROUND 5
  PM FRIDAY.

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE
  CURRENT...EXCEPT A MODERATE EAST TO WEST LONGSHORE CURRENT AT
  THE BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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...BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

$$

47
458 
WHUS42 KILM 080014
CFWILM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
814 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2015


NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-080815-
/O.EXP.KILM.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-150508T0000Z/
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0003.150508T1100Z-150509T0000Z/
COASTAL PENDER-COASTAL NEW HANOVER-COASTAL BRUNSWICK-COASTAL HORRY-
COASTAL GEORGETOWN-
814 PM EDT THU MAY 7 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING...

* LOCATION...ALL AREA BEACHES.

* RIP CURRENT RISK...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR ALL BEACHES.

* SURF HEIGHT...6 TO 7 FEET AT THE PENDER AND NEW HANOVER COUNTY 
  BEACHES...AND AROUND 5 FEET AT THE BRUNSWICK...HORRY AND 
  GEORGETOWN COUNTY BEACHES.

* TIMING AND TIDES...THE BEST TIME FOR RIP CURRENTS WILL BE AN HOUR 
  OR TWO EITHER SIDE OF LOW TIDE...WHICH WILL OCCUR AROUND 5 PM 
  FRIDAY.

* OTHER HAZARDS...THERE WILL BE A STRONG NORTH TO SOUTH LONGSHORE 
  CURRENT...EXCEPT A MODERATE EAST TO WEST LONGSHORE CURRENT AT THE 
  BRUNSWICK COUNTY BEACHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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...BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM...
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF
YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND
BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY
AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY. 

&&

$$

47

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 6, 4:19 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryILM55 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in North Carolina, 2015Rip Current Statements in South Carolina, 2015Every rip current statement in 2015

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.