Alert archive / North Carolina / Rip Current Statements in 2025

Rip Current Statement 2, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 5, 2025Brunswick County, North Carolina; Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this rip current statement at Apr 5, 2025, 8:13 PM EDT for Brunswick County, North Carolina; Horry County, South Carolina. It took effect at Apr 6, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 5, 2025, 8:13 PM EDT (00:13 UTC)
In effect from
Apr 6, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Apr 6, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC

Counties Brunswick County, NC, Horry County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 16 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:16 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

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 176 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2025-04-06Temperature 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2025-04-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 125 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
1122 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
125 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
124 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

603 
WHUS42 KILM 060013
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
813 PM EDT Sat Apr 5 2025

NCZ110-SCZ054-060900-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0001.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0002.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-Coastal Horry-
813 PM EDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT SUNDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT SUNDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...For the Beach Hazards Statement, Strong south to north
  longshore current expected. There is also a high risk of rip
  currents.

* WHERE...In North Carolina, Coastal Brunswick County. In South 
  Carolina, Coastal Horry County.

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

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water. Longshore currents can sweep 
  swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties, and 
  other hazardous areas. It may sweep swimmers off their feet, 
  making it difficult to return to shore.



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.

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-060900-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0001.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
813 PM EDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT SUNDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Strong south to north longshore current. There is also a
  Moderate Risk of rip currents.

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

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

* IMPACTS...Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers 
  into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas. 
  It may sweep swimmers off their feet, making it difficult to 
  return to shore.



PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
939 
WHUS42 KILM 060748
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
348 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

NCZ110-061600-
/O.CAN.KILM.BH.S.0001.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
348 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...Coastal Brunswick County.

* 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.

&&

$$

SCZ054-061600-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Horry-
348 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...For the Beach Hazards Statement, strong south to north
  longshore current. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous 
  rip currents expected.

* WHERE...Coastal Horry County.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water. Longshore currents can sweep 
  swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties, and 
  other hazardous areas. It may sweep swimmers off their feet, 
  making it difficult to return to shore.

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.

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-061600-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.250406T1000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
348 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Strong south to north longshore current. There is also a
  Moderate Risk of rip currents expected.

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

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers 
  into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas. 
  It may sweep swimmers off their feet, making it difficult to 
  return to shore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$

9
030 
WHUS42 KILM 061505
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1105 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

SCZ054-070000-
/O.CAN.KILM.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Horry-
1105 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Strong south to north longshore current. There is also a
  Moderate Risk of rip currents.

* WHERE...Coastal Horry County.

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

* IMPACTS...Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers 
  into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas. 
  It may sweep swimmers off their feet, making it difficult to 
  return to shore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-070000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
1105 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

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

* WHAT...Strong south to north longshore current. There is also a
  Moderate Risk of rip currents.

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

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

* IMPACTS...Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers 
  into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas. 
  It may sweep swimmers off their feet, making it difficult to 
  return to shore.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with
lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may
be swept into.

&&

$$

NCZ110-070000-
/O.CON.KILM.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
1105 AM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Coastal Brunswick County.

* 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.

&&

$$
126 
WHUS42 KILM 062331
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
731 PM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-070045-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
731 PM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

$$

NCZ110-070045-
/O.EXP.KILM.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-250407T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
731 PM EDT Sun Apr 6 2025

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 5, 8:13 PM EDTBeach Hazards StatementILMBrunswick, New Hanover, Pender24 hr
Apr 6, 2:31 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryILM51 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in North Carolina, 2025Rip Current Statements in South Carolina, 2025Every rip current statement in 2025

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.