Alert archive / North Carolina / Rip Current Statements in 2018

Rip Current Statement 1, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 15, 2018Brunswick County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this rip current statement at Apr 15, 2018, 5:10 AM EDT for Brunswick County, North Carolina. It took effect at Apr 15, 2018, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 15, 2018, 5:10 AM EDT (09:10 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 15, 2018, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 15, 2018, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC

County Brunswick County, NC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 19 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:10 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 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 149 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 00:00Z on 2018-04-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 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 00:00Z on 2018-04-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 46 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
604 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

026 
WHUS42 KILM 150910
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
510 AM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018


NCZ110-160000-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0001.180415T1000Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
510 AM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

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

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a High Rip
Current Risk, which is in effect through this evening.

* Location...Brunswick County from Little River Inlet to Bald Head
  Island.

* Rip Current Risk...High.

* Surf Height...4 to 5 feet.

* Timing and Tides...Strong rip currents can occur at any time, but
  will be especially strong several hours either side of low tide, 
  which will be around 215 pm.

* Other Hazards...None.

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. 

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-160000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.180415T1200Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
510 AM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS
MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* HAZARDS...Strong south to north longshore current.

* TIMING...This morning through this evening.

* LOCATION...East facing beaches of Pender, New Hanover, Horry and
  Brunswick counties.

* POTENTIAL IMPACTS...Difficult swimming conditions. A moderate rip
  current risk is also in effect.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued when threats such as rip
currents, longshore currents, and other hazards create life-
threatening conditions in the surf zone. Caution should be used when
in or near the water.

&&

$$

47
2 follow-up statements
826 
WHUS42 KILM 151812
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
212 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

NCZ107-160215-
/O.NEW.KILM.CF.Y.0011.180416T0000Z-180416T0400Z/
Inland New Hanover-
212 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO
MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a Coastal
Flood Advisory, which is in effect from 8 PM this evening to
midnight EDT tonight.

* Location...Portions of the lower Cape Fear River to include
  downtown Wilmington.

* Coastal Flooding...The downtown Wilmington tide gauge should peak
  near 5.75 ft MLLW. 
 
* Timing...The highest water levels are expected between 9
  pm and 11 pm.

* Impacts...Low spots on Battleship Road will be covered with a few
  inches of water. The westbound lane of U.S.S. North Carolina Road
  will be covered with water up to 6 inches. About a block of Water
  Street in downtown Wilmington, south of Market Street, will be 
  covered with a few inches of water. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Coastal Flood Advisory indicates that low areas adjacent to
portions of the lower Cape Fear River will experience minor coastal
flooding.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-160000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
212 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* HAZARDS...Strong south to north longshore current.

* TIMING...Through this evening.

* LOCATION...East facing beaches of Pender, New Hanover, Horry and 
  Brunswick counties.

* POTENTIAL IMPACTS...Difficult swimming conditions. A moderate rip 
  current risk is also in effect.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued when threats such as rip
currents, longshore currents, and other hazards create life-
threatening conditions in the surf zone. Caution should be used when
in or near the water.

&&

$$

NCZ110-160000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
212 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* Location...Brunswick County from Little River Inlet to Bald Head 
  Island.

* Rip Current Risk...High.

* Surf Height...4 to 5 feet.

* Timing and Tides...Strong rip currents can occur at any time, but 
  will be especially strong several hours either side of low tide, 
  which will be around 215 pm.

* Other Hazards...None.

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.

&&

$$
27
718 
WHUS42 KILM 160010
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
810 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-160115-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
810 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED...

The BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS been allowed to EXPIRE at 800 pm.

&&

$$

NCZ110-160115-
/O.EXP.KILM.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
810 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

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

The BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS been allowed to EXPIRE at 800 pm.

$$

NCZ107-160400-
/O.CON.KILM.CF.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-180416T0400Z/
Inland New Hanover-
810 PM EDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT
TONIGHT...

* Location...Portions of the lower Cape Fear River to include 
  downtown Wilmington.

* Coastal Flooding...The downtown Wilmington tide gauge should peak 
  near 5.75 ft MLLW at high tide this evening.

* Timing...The highest water levels are expected between 9 pm and 
  11 pm.

* Impacts...Low spots on Battleship Road will be covered with a few 
  inches of water. The westbound lane of U.S.S. North Carolina Road 
  will be covered with water up to 6 inches. About a block of Water 
  Street in downtown Wilmington, south of Market Street, will be 
  covered with a few inches of water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Coastal Flood Advisory indicates that low areas adjacent to
portions of the lower Cape Fear River will experience minor coastal
flooding.

&&

$$
11

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 15, 1:54 PM EDTGale WarningILM20 hr
Apr 15, 2:12 PM EDTCoastal Flood AdvisoryILMNew Hanover10 hr
Apr 15, 5:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMRobeson27 min
Apr 15, 6:19 PM EDTWind AdvisoryILMBrunswick, New Hanover, Pender7 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in North Carolina, 2018Every rip current statement in 2018

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.