Alert archive / North Carolina / Rip Current Statements in 2020

Rip Current Statement 32, NWS Wilmington, NC

October 22, 2020Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this rip current statement at Oct 22, 2020, 7:52 PM EDT for Brunswick County, New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina. It took effect at Oct 23, 2020, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 22, 2020, 7:52 PM EDT (23:52 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 23, 2020, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Oct 23, 2020, 7:47 PM EDT
In force
14 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 23:54 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, 11.9 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 2020-10-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 281 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 2020-10-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
281 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-198 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
819 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

087 
WHUS42 KILM 222352
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
752 PM EDT Thu Oct 22 2020

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-231200-
/O.CAN.KILM.RP.S.0031.000000T0000Z-201023T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0032.201023T1000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
752 PM EDT Thu Oct 22 2020

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT FRIDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender and 
  Coastal New Hanover Counties.

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Friday through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

NCZ110-231200-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0032.201023T1000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
752 PM EDT Thu Oct 22 2020

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT FRIDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...Coastal Brunswick County.

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Friday through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

21
5 follow-up statements
298 
WHUS42 KILM 230839
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
439 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-240000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0032.201023T1000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-
Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
439 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender, 
  Coastal New Hanover and Coastal Brunswick Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

9
006 
WHUS42 KILM 230928
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
528 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

NCZ107-232200-
/O.NEW.KILM.CF.Y.0107.201023T1900Z-201023T2200Z/
Inland New Hanover-
528 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level 
  expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal 
  waterways.

* WHERE...The lower Cape Fear River including downtown 
  Wilmington.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...The lowest parts of USS North Carolina Road and low 
  spots of Battleship Road begin to flood. Water begins to 
  spread out of the storm drains onto Water Street just south of 
  Market Street in downtown Wilmington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.

&&

Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour.

Cape Fear River at Wilmington
MLLW Categories - Minor 5.5 ft, Moderate 6.7 ft, Major 10.0 ft
MHHW Categories - Minor 0.8 ft, Moderate 2.0 ft, Major 5.3 ft

             Total      Total    Departure                   
 Day/Time    Tide       Tide     from Norm   Waves    Flood  
            ft MLLW    ft MHHW       ft       ft      Impact 
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 23/04 PM     5.6        0.9        0.8        1      Minor    
 24/05 AM     4.9        0.2        0.8        1       None    
 24/05 PM     5.2        0.5        0.5        1       None    
 25/06 AM     4.8        0.1        0.6        1       None    
 25/06 PM     5.2        0.5        0.6        1       None

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-232315-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0032.201023T1000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-
Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
528 AM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender, 
  Coastal New Hanover and Coastal Brunswick Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

8
148 
WHUS42 KILM 231749
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
149 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

NCZ107-232200-
/O.CON.KILM.CF.Y.0107.201023T1900Z-201023T2200Z/
Inland New Hanover-
149 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level 
  expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal 
  waterways.

* WHERE...The lower Cape Fear River including downtown 
  Wilmington.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...The lowest parts of USS North Carolina Road and low 
  spots of Battleship Road begin to flood. Water begins to 
  spread out of the storm drains onto Water Street just south of 
  Market Street in downtown Wilmington.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.

&&

Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour.

Cape Fear River at Wilmington
MLLW Categories - Minor 5.5 ft, Moderate 6.7 ft, Major 10.0 ft
MHHW Categories - Minor 0.8 ft, Moderate 2.0 ft, Major 5.3 ft

             Total      Total    Departure                   
 Day/Time    Tide       Tide     from Norm   Waves    Flood  
            ft MLLW    ft MHHW       ft       ft      Impact 
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 23/04 PM     5.7        1.0        0.9        1      Minor    
 24/05 AM     4.8        0.1        0.7        1       None    
 24/05 PM     5.2        0.5        0.5        1       None    
 25/06 AM     4.8        0.1        0.6        1       None    
 25/06 PM     5.3        0.6        0.7        1       None    
 26/06 AM     5.2        0.5        0.9        1       None

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-240000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-
Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
149 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender, 
  Coastal New Hanover and Coastal Brunswick Counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
292 
WHUS42 KILM 232214
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
614 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

NCZ107-232315-
/O.EXP.KILM.CF.Y.0107.000000T0000Z-201023T2200Z/
Inland New Hanover-
614 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...

Gage readings have fallen below the 5.5 ft MLLW threshold
for coastal flooding along the banks of the Lower Cape Fear
River from Wilmington south. As a result, the Coastal Flood 
Advisory has been allowed to expire at 6 pm EDT.

$$

NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-240000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-
Coastal Horry-Coastal Georgetown-
614 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender, 
  Coastal New Hanover and Coastal Brunswick Counties.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
dch
936 
WHUS42 KILM 232347
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
747 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-241200-
/O.CAN.KILM.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-201024T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0033.201024T1000Z-201025T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
747 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT SATURDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties. In North Carolina, Coastal Pender and 
  Coastal New Hanover Counties.

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Saturday through Saturday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

NCZ110-240100-
/O.CAN.KILM.RP.S.0032.000000T0000Z-201024T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
747 PM EDT Fri Oct 23 2020

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

$$

21

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 22, 2:58 AM EDTCoastal Flood AdvisoryILMNew Hanover14 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in North Carolina, 2020Rip Current Statements in South Carolina, 2020Every rip current statement in 2020

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.