Alert archive / South Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 30, NWS Wilmington, NC

July 8, 2026Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina; New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Jul 8, 2026, 8:02 PM EDT for Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina; New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina. It took effect at Jul 9, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 8, 2026, 8:02 PM EDT (00:02 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 9, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Jul 9, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
14 hr
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC

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

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 7 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:05 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, 0.0 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 2026-07-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1555 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Newport, NC at 00:00Z on 2026-07-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 80 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
1555 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-80 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
999 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
133 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

432 
WHUS42 KILM 090002
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
802 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

NCZ106-SCZ054-100000-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0030.260709T1000Z-260710T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal Horry-
802 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

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

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

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

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday 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.

&&

$$

NCZ108-SCZ056-100000-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0030.260709T1000Z-260710T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
802 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

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

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

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

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday 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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
688 
WHUS42 KILM 091821
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
Issued by National Weather Service Charleston SC
221 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

NCZ106-SCZ054-100000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0030.000000T0000Z-260710T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal Horry-
221 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

...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 expected.

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

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday 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.

&&

$$

NCZ108-SCZ056-100000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0030.000000T0000Z-260710T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
221 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

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

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

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

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday 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.

&&

$$
598 
WHUS42 KILM 092337
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
737 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

NCZ106-100745-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0030.000000T0000Z-260710T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0031.260710T1000Z-260711T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-
737 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

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

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

* WHERE...Coastal Pender County.

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

&&

$$

NCZ108-SCZ056-100745-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0030.000000T0000Z-260710T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0031.260710T1000Z-260711T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
737 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

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

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

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

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

&&

$$

SCZ054-100745-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0030.000000T0000Z-260710T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0010.260710T1000Z-260711T0000Z/
Coastal Horry-
737 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected. There is also the threat
  of a strong south to north longshore current.

* WHERE...Coastal Horry 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.

&&

$$

NCZ110-100745-
/O.NEW.KILM.RP.S.0010.260710T1000Z-260711T0000Z/
Coastal Brunswick-
737 PM EDT Thu Jul 9 2026

...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.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Jul 8, 3:02 PM EDT, 5 hours earlier. Its key messages:

  • -1)The heatwave continues in the near term. 2)Releif from the heat and good rain chances in the offering this weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 3:02 PM EDT, 5 hours before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
302 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
All sections updated with little change in forecast thinking.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
-1)The heatwave continues in the near term.

2)Releif from the heat and good rain chances in the offering
this weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGE 1...The heatwave continues in the near term.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
Although the ridge that has been overhead
will flatten in the coming days it will take a more significant
shift in the synoptic pattern to temper afternoon heat below
advisory thresholds through Saturday. The low amplitude aloft that
results of the flattened ridge will help some lower dewpoints to mix
down away from the coast for HI values that remain in advisory
thresholds as they did today. Of lower confidence is areas close to
the coast where dewpoints could remain higher and HI values get
closer to but generally fall short of Warning criteria as they did
today. For this reason and to avoid possibly confusing double
headlines have held off on a Heat Watch for tomorrow especially
after collab w neighbors where we feel HI values will fall short
(except for CHS where higher dewpoints have pooled and HIs of 110+
have materialized).

KEY MESSAGE 2...Releif from the heat and good rain chances in
the offering this weekend.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
The pattern change needed as mentioned
above may take place on Sunday. The ridge that has been plaguing the
east for quite some time will be shifting over the west-central part
of the nation and be amplifying considerably. This will drive a
cold front into the area. With plenty of antecedent heat and
moisture the setup should be quite stormy Sunday and Monday, some
storms possibly on the strong side.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR for the most part. Storm coverage much lower today and favoring
NC and less so the seabreeze. FLO probably stays dry.

Extended Forecast...Generally VFR. Low potential for flight
restrictions from fog or low ceilings each morning. Threat for
periodic flight restrictions from daily afternoon and evening
showers/thunderstorms through Sat. More numerous thunderstorms
possible Sunday and Monday.

&&

.MARINE...
Little to no deviations from SW flow as
typical of the time of year. Wind speeds do increase Thursday into
Friday as Atlantic High retrogrades and the Piedmont trough
strengthens. A window of SCA late Friday or Friday night. A cold
front on Sunday will bring veering winds even as speeds tick down a
bit, but wave faces could still steepen from the directional
variability.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ087.
     Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ096-
     099-105>110.
     Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ106-
     108.
SC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ017-023-024-
     032-033.
     Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ039-
     054>056-058-059.
     Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ054-
     056.
MARINE...None.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...MBB
KEY MESSAGES...MBB
DISCUSSION...MBB
AVIATION...MBB
MARINE...MBB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 8, 6:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
640 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

NCZ105-106-082330-
Coastal Pender NC-Inland Pender NC-
640 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN PENDER COUNTY
THROUGH 730 PM EDT...

At 640 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Topsail, or 7 miles west of Surf City. This thunderstorm was nearly
stationary.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Surf City, Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Topsail, Woodside, and Edgecomb.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 7758 3430 7770 3437 7781 3438 7781
      3439 7783 3438 7784 3440 7787 3454 7779
      3449 7758 3447 7757 3447 7756 3446 7754
      3444 7752
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 193DEG 1KT 3441 7769

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SCALORA
Special weather statement, Jul 8, 7:43 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
743 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

NCZ105-106-090030-
Coastal Pender NC-Inland Pender NC-
743 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN PENDER COUNTY
THROUGH 830 PM EDT...

At 743 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Woodside, or 8 miles west of Surf City. This thunderstorm was nearly
stationary.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Surf City, Topsail Beach, Topsail, Ashton, Woodside, and Edgecomb.

This includes Interstate 40 between mile markers 403 and 407.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 7758 3436 7763 3446 7791 3458 7787
      3454 7760 3448 7758 3447 7757 3447 7756
      3446 7754 3444 7752
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 184DEG 4KT 3445 7770

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

SCALORA
Special weather statement, Jul 8, 7:57 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
757 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

NCZ105-090030-
Inland Pender NC-
757 PM EDT Wed Jul 8 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN PENDER COUNTY
THROUGH 830 PM EDT...

At 757 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Penderlea, or near Wallace, moving northeast at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Burgaw, Penderlea, Murray Town, Willard, St. Helena, Watha, and
Pender Memorial Hospital.

This includes Interstate 40 between mile markers 388 and 401.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3472 7799 3471 7798 3472 7796 3472 7791
      3463 7783 3451 7790 3464 7818 3468 7816
      3471 7811 3472 7811 3472 7805 3473 7801
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 229DEG 6KT 3465 7800

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

SCALORA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 9, 12:26 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryILMDarlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and 1 more20 hr
Jul 9, 12:26 AM EDTExtreme Heat WarningILMGeorgetown, Horry20 hr
Jul 9, 2:33 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryILMGeorgetown, Horry10 hr
Jul 9, 7:37 PM EDTBeach Hazards StatementILMGeorgetown24 hr
Jul 9, 7:37 PM EDTRip Current StatementILMHorry24 hr
Jul 8, 8:22 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMPender68 min
Jul 9, 2:38 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryILM11 hr

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in South Carolina, 2026Beach Hazards Statements in North Carolina, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026

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.