Beach Hazards Statement 8, NWS Wilmington, NC

856 
WHUS42 KILM 020351
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1151 PM EDT Fri May 1 2026

NCZ107-020500-
/O.EXP.KILM.CF.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-260502T0400Z/
Inland New Hanover-
1151 PM EDT Fri May 1 2026

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT...

Water levels have fallen below minor flood thresholds.

$$

NCZ108-SCZ056-030000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0008.260502T1000Z-260503T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
1151 PM EDT Fri May 1 2026

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

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

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

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

&&

$$

ABW

357 
WHUS42 KILM 021820
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
220 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

NCZ107-030500-
/O.NEW.KILM.CF.Y.0012.260503T0200Z-260503T0500Z/
Inland New Hanover-
220 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
1 AM EDT SUNDAY...

* 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 10 PM this evening to 1 AM EDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...The lowest portions of USS North Carolina Road and 
  Battleship Road begin to observe minor coastal flooding. Water 
  begins to spread out of storm drains onto Water Street just 
  south of Market Street in downtown Wilmington.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Affected areas listed are based on 
  average tide conditions. Additional locations may experience 
  flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, high winds, or 
  other factors.

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 6.8 ft, Major 10.0 ft
MHHW Categories - Minor 0.8 ft, Moderate 2.1 ft, Major 5.3 ft

             Total      Total    Departure                   
 Day/Time    Tide       Tide     from Norm   Waves    Flood  
            ft MLLW    ft MHHW       ft       ft      Impact 
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 03/12 AM     5.6        0.9        0.7       N/A     Minor    
 03/11 AM     4.4       -0.3        0.4       N/A      None    
 04/12 AM     5.3        0.6        0.4       N/A      None    
 04/12 PM     4.3       -0.4        0.4       N/A      None    
 05/12 AM     4.9        0.2        0.2       N/A      None    
 05/12 PM     3.9       -0.8        0.1       N/A      None

&&

$$

NCZ108-SCZ056-030000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260503T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
220 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

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

* WHAT...Strong north to south longshore current. There is also a
  Moderate Risk of rip currents for New Hanover county beaches.

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

&&

$$

375 
WHUS42 KILM 022347
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
747 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

NCZ108-SCZ056-030100-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260503T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
747 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

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

$$

NCZ107-030500-
/O.CON.KILM.CF.Y.0012.260503T0200Z-260503T0500Z/
Inland New Hanover-
747 PM EDT Sat May 2 2026

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT
SUNDAY...

* 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 1 AM EDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...The lowest portions of USS North Carolina Road and 
  Battleship Road begin to observe minor coastal flooding. Water 
  begins to spread out of storm drains onto Water Street just 
  south of Market Street in downtown Wilmington.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Affected areas listed are based on 
  average tide conditions. Additional locations may experience 
  flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, high winds, or 
  other factors.

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 6.8 ft, Major 10.0 ft
MHHW Categories - Minor 0.8 ft, Moderate 2.1 ft, Major 5.3 ft

             Total      Total    Departure                   
 Day/Time    Tide       Tide     from Norm   Waves    Flood  
            ft MLLW    ft MHHW       ft       ft      Impact 
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 03/12 AM     5.6        0.9        0.7       N/A     Minor    
 03/11 AM     4.4       -0.3        0.4       N/A      None    
 04/12 AM     5.3        0.6        0.4       N/A      None    
 04/12 PM     4.3       -0.4        0.4       N/A      None    
 05/12 AM     4.9        0.2        0.2       N/A      None    
 05/12 PM     3.9       -0.8        0.1       N/A      None

&&

$$

LEW

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
752 PM EDT Fri May 1 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Coastal Flood Advisory was issued for the Lower Cape Fear River
for high tide this evening.

A Small Craft Advisory was issued for Saturday afternoon into
Saturday evening.

Confidence in beneficial rain tonight into Saturday remains
high, with the primary uncertainty being how much rain falls,
especially across northwestern portions of the forecast area,
or generally west of I-95.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Beneficial rain expected from late today through Saturday.

2) The Lower Cape Fear River will experience minor coastal
flooding during the next 2 evening high tide cycles.

3) Another round of much needed rain possible Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Beneficial rain expected from later today
through Saturday.

A stalled front remains well south of the area, draped across
the northern Gulf Coast and extending off the east coast of
Florida. A weak low pressure area is expected to track along
this front through tonight while the front lifts closer to the
forecast area, bringing an initial batch of mainly light rain to
southern and eastern areas this afternoon into tonight. As a
notable shortwave trough pivots southeastward towards the Deep
South and sharpens, increasing upper-level divergence will
result in the development of multiple surface lows along the
front, bringing an extended period of rain from the latter half
of tonight into Saturday, with rain tapering off from west to
east during the afternoon and evening. A consolidated and
deepening surface low will emerge and accelerate away from the
northeastern NC coast on Saturday night, bringing an end to the
precip as cooler and drier air filters in behind it.

The greatest chc of rain will exist between daybreak Saturday
and early Saturday aftn. A rather tight gradient in precip
amounts should exist as the axis of greatest pcp should be
aligned near or just off the coast depending on how close to the
coast the wave of low pressure tracks. Looks like most of the
area should receive between .75 and 1 inch with greater amounts
possible closer to the coast, especially across Georgetown coast
and lesser amounts possible west of I-95. Overall, expect a
cloudy, cool and rainy day on Saturday.

Behind this system, a surge of cool and dry air will make for
below-normal temperatures between Saturday night and Sunday
night. A gradual warming trend will commence thereafter before
another front arrives with the next chance for rain around
Wednesday or Thursday.

KEY MESSAGE 2: The Lower Cape Fear River will experience minor
coastal flooding during the next 2 evening high tide cycles.

As a result of the full moon and relatively high astronomical
tides, the latest tidal gage forecasts for the Lower Cape Fear
River has it eclipsing minor coastal flood thresholds (5.5 ft
mllw) during high tide this evening, and again Saturday. This
will effect low-lying locations in the vicinity of the river
from downtown Wilmington and southward. The minor coastal
flooding will occur generally within a 3 hour window centered
around the high tide this evening. High tide this evening is at
1032 pm and for Sat evening, 1111 pm.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Another round of much needed rain possible
Thursday.

Going from the mid to late week period the mid level flow will
transitions from zonal/weak ridging to a deep trough that gets
carved out from the NW. This drives a cold front through the
area on Thursday. There are some conflicting indicators as to
how much rain this setup may be capable of generating. Arguing
for rain is both the strength of the surface front as well as
the mid level support in the form of height falls. Arguing
against meaningful rainfall/drought releif is the fact that
there is no big high downstream of the front offshore. This
limits prefrontal moisture flux into the Southeastern U.S. There
is also a good signal of convection in the Gulf States that
always famously robs the Carolinas of rainfall. In the end what
seems likely is that high POPs will in fact be warranted but
lower QPF model solutions will verify best.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Mainly VFR to start off the 00Z TAF period with some pockets of
MVFR cigs. Eventually tonight all areas will drop to MVFR as
rain also overspreads the area with sfc low pressure developing
along an offshore frontal boundary. High confidence for IFR
daytime Saturday, continuing through at least close to the end
of the TAF period with moderate to at times heavy rainfall.

Extended Forecast... As the low tracks from off the coastal
Carolinas to the NE Saturday night, expect a return to mainly
VFR through Tue. Fog/low clouds could reduce visibilities
Saturday and Monday nights as low-level moisture returns.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Saturday...Cold front stalled across the Gulf Coast to
the coast of Fl will lift northward into tonight. Low pressure
will develop along the front off the SC Coast tonight while the
front lifts farther north to just offshore from the local
coastal waters Sat morning.

Winds this afternoon will veer a bit more easterly around 10
kts with higher gusts as high pressure shifts off the Delmarva
coast to the north. Winds will lighten and become more variable
later today before they shift back to the N as the front and low
lift northward into Saturday. Depending on the track of the low
and frontal boundary, you should see increasing NE to E winds
on the north and west side of the low and slightly increasing SE
winds on the east and south side, but most of the local waters
should be in an increasing northerly flow as the low lifts
northward.

Coastal waters will observe a slow building through early Sat
with 2 to 4 ft seas near shore. Same for the offshore waters,
building to 3 to 5 ft by Sat daybreak. A tightening gradient
between high pressure over the Midwest and surface low off the
NC coast will result in increasing N winds on Saturday, up to 20
to 25 kts in higher gusts through Sat aftn. Easterly swell around
10 seconds will mix in.

Saturday night through Wednesday...Advisory-worthy winds will
be tapering at the start of the period as low pressure exits to
the NE along frontal boundary. High pressure quickly builds
behind the front/low Sunday and transitions offshore for winds
that veer while growing considerably weaker late in the day. In
fact by Sunday night speeds could drop as low at 5-10kt. Light
southerly winds and the absence of appreciable swell energy on
Tuesday will allow seas to fall to 2 ft. Winds and seas will
both be on the rise Wednesday as a cold front approaches but no
headlines are anticipated at this time.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Coastal Flood Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for NCZ107.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 11 PM EDT Saturday for
     AMZ250-252.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...ILM
KEY MESSAGES...MBB/RGZ
DISCUSSION...MBB/RGZ
AVIATION...MAS
MARINE...MBB/RGZ