Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 35, NWS Wilmington, NC

July 18, 2026New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Jul 18, 2026, 8:04 PM EDT for New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina. It took effect at Jul 19, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 2026, 8:04 PM EDT (00:04 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 19, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Jul 19, 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 00:07 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, 0.1 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 2026-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1685 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 2026-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 138 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
1685 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

429 
WHUS42 KILM 190004
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
804 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-190800-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0035.260719T1000Z-260720T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
804 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...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 expected.

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

* 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.

&&

$$

IGB
2 follow-up statements
054 
WHUS42 KILM 190645
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
245 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-200000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0035.260719T1000Z-260720T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
245 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT THIS
MORNING 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 Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties.

* WHEN...Today.

* 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
197 
WHUS42 KILM 200001
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
801 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

NCZ106-108-SCZ054-056-210000-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0035.000000T0000Z-260720T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0036.260720T1000Z-260721T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Horry-
Coastal Georgetown-
801 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT MONDAY THROUGH
MONDAY 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 Horry and Coastal 
  Georgetown Counties.

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

&&

$$

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 18, 2:41 PM EDT, 5 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1)Heat Advisory expected again tomorrow and possibly Monday and Tuesday. 2) A mid to late week front will bring good rain chances.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 2:41 PM EDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
241 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Small Craft Advisory expanded, now all waters through 00 Monday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1)Heat Advisory expected again tomorrow and possibly Monday and
Tuesday.

2) A mid to late week front will bring good rain chances.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGE 1...Heat Advisory expected again tomorrow and
possibly Monday and Tuesday.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
Although there is no mid level ridge in
place (the culprit for most of the month) our 850mb temps hovering
around 20C will keep Advisory-worthy heat locked in through Sunday.
Confidence is a bit lower thereafter as cloudiness associated with
convection could temper the heat in places but advisories do seem
possible for at least part of the region.

KEY MESSAGE 2...A mid to late week front will bring good rain
chances.

KEY MESSAGE 2 DESCRIPTION...
A large upper low develops north of NY on Wednesday in a
pattern that looks less July-ish. This will push a bona fide
front into and eventually through the region. With all of the
heat and humidity in place ahead of the front's arrival the
stage should be set for fairly widespread convection Wednesday
and Thursday and possibly Friday as well should the boundary
linger. WPC even has NC zones in a Slight for excessive
rainfall, hopefully leading to some drought relief.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions will prevail, especially outside of any convection
that develops this afternoon/early evening. VCTS possible initially
at KMYR/KCRE along a resultant seabreeze. Late this afternoon and
early evening could be a few storms in the vicinity of KLBT?KFLO. SW-
Sly winds are expected to be gusty at times, especially the coastal
terminals this afternoon and early evening. Any storms will
gradually dissipate with the loss of heating, with additional storms
expected by Sunday afternoon.

Extended Forecast...Scattered to numerous showers and storms
are expected mainly across North Carolina between late Sunday
afternoon and Monday night with brief periods of MVFR-IFR
restrictions possible. Chances for these restrictions are lower
in SC due to anticipated lesser storm coverage. Forecast storm
chances decrease on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving a low risk for
transient MVFR-IFR restrictions in convection. There is a potential
for an uptick in convection again on Thursday with some restrictions
possible.

&&

.MARINE...
Tonight through Thursday... The gradient tightens in the very near
term between the Bermuda High and a strengthening Piedmont trough.
SCA now in effect for all waters through 00Z Monday. Confidence a
little lower thereafter as the trough may weaken, but winds could
stay close to advisory thresholds for an extended period of time. An
even larger surge in winds/seas is slated for Wednesday and Thursday
ahead of a cold front. And although not expressly depicted in our
forecasts just yet but seas larger than 6 ft appear possible.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ087-096-099-
     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-
     032-033-039-054>056-058-059.
     Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ054-
     056.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT Sunday for AMZ250-252-254-
     256.

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 18, 3:16 PM EDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
316 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

SCZ058-181945-
Central Horry SC-
316 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN HORRY COUNTY
THROUGH 345 PM EDT...

At 315 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bucksville, or near Red Hill, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts around 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...
Conway, Red Hill, Horry Georgetown Technical College Conway Campus,
Coastal Carolina University, Bucksville, Lighthouse Care Center Of
Conway, and Conway Medical Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3369 7910 3377 7916 3386 7901 3377 7891
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 239DEG 17KT 3375 7909

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

III

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 2:23 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryILMBladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson17 hr
Jul 19, 1:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMPender18 min
Jul 19, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMScotland27 min

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in North Carolina, 2026Beach Hazards Statements in South 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.