Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 9, NWS Wilmington, NC

May 5, 2026New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this beach hazards statement at May 5, 2026, 7:51 PM EDT for New Hanover County, Pender County, North Carolina; Georgetown County, Horry County, South Carolina. It took effect at May 6, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 14 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 5, 2026, 7:51 PM EDT (23:51 UTC)
In effect from
May 6, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
May 6, 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 23:49 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 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 12:00Z on 2026-05-05Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Newport, NC at 12:00Z on 2026-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1236 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
15 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

608 
WHUS42 KILM 052351
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
751 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026

NCZ106-SCZ054-070000-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0009.260506T1000Z-260507T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal Horry-
751 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY 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 Wednesday through Wednesday 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-SCZ056-070000-
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0009.260506T1000Z-260507T0000Z/
Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
751 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026

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

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

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

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

&&

$$

LEW
2 follow-up statements
117 
WHUS42 KILM 060622
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
222 AM EDT Wed May 6 2026

SCZ054-070000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0009.260506T1000Z-260507T0000Z/
Coastal Horry-
222 AM EDT Wed May 6 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.

* WHERE...Coastal Horry County.

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT this morning 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.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-070000-
/O.CON.KILM.BH.S.0009.260506T1000Z-260507T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
222 AM EDT Wed May 6 2026

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

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

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

* WHEN...From 6 AM EDT this morning 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.

&&

$$
204 
WHUS42 KILM 062347
CFWILM

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
747 PM EDT Wed May 6 2026

SCZ054-080000-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260507T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0010.260507T1000Z-260508T0000Z/
Coastal Horry-
747 PM EDT Wed May 6 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT THURSDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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

* WHERE...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.

&&

$$

NCZ106-108-SCZ056-080000-
/O.EXP.KILM.BH.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260507T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KILM.BH.S.0010.260507T1000Z-260508T0000Z/
Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Georgetown-
747 PM EDT Wed May 6 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM EDT THURSDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT WILL EXPIRE AT 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 and Coastal New 
  Hanover Counties. 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.

&&

$$

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 May 5, 6:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Gradual warming is expected through Wednesday followed by showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front Thursday. 2) Shower chances will increase over the latter half of the weekend as a disturbance moves across the Southeast followed by a cold front.
Area forecast discussion, May 5, 6:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
621 PM EDT Tue May 5 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Gusty southerly winds will continue thru early this evening.
This a result of a tightened sfc pg combined with the inland
push of the sea breeze. After sunset, will take out the sea
breeze to the wind equation leaving a slowly somewhat relaxed
gradient by midnight resulting in south to southwest winds
diminishing to around 5 mph or less thru the night.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Gradual warming is expected through Wednesday followed by
showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front Thursday.

2) Shower chances will increase over the latter half of the
weekend as a disturbance moves across the Southeast followed by
a cold front.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Gradual warming is expected through Wednesday
followed by showers and thunderstorms ahead of a cold front
Thursday.

As high pressure lifts northeastward tonight into Wednesday
morning, a coastal trough will rotate northwestward toward the
southeastern NC coast. Increasing low level moisture with this
trough could produce a few showers near the coast, this evening
through early Wednesday morning. Further increases in low level
moisture are expected to occur on Wednesday. Winds turn SW-erly
tomorrow which should tend to keep offshore showers along the
coastal trough just offshore. A stray shower remains possible
along a mesoscale convergence zone near the coast.

High rain chances return Thursday as a deepening mid to upper
level trough pushes a cold front closer. Increasing upper-level
support will produce heavier showers and some thunderstorms
ahead of the front, however the severe potential is not
particularly high due to cloud cover and deep-layer flow being
parallel to the front. Cooler and drier air will follow behind
the front for Friday with dry high pressure in place into the
weekend.

KEY MESSAGE 2:Shower chances will increase over the latter half
of the weekend as a disturbance moves across the Southeast
followed by a cold front.

May see a couple of waves of low pressure run across the deep
South into the Southeast over the weekend. Looks like main
shower activity on Sat should remain south, with more in the way
of possible clouds in our area. By Sunday, pcp chances will
increase as a shortwave tracks across the Southeast followed by
a cold front moving through from the northwest. Models are not
aligned with the exact evolution of these features, but overall
expect some clouds and potential for showers or thunderstorms in
spots over the weekend, especially later on Sunday.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR conditions will prevail through midday Wednesday. Thicker
cirrus is expected on Wednesday afternoon. Winds will gust to
around 20-25 knots tomorrow afternoon at the coastal terminals
as a result of the seabreeze.

Extended Forecast... An approaching cold front Thursday may
produce early morning stratus along with some relatively brief
restrictions within showers or thunderstorms during the day.
Mostly VFR conditions are expected Friday and Saturday.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Wednesday... A stiff sea breeze continues to create
choppy seas near the coast this afternoon. Gradient winds remain
elevated tonight and Wednesday ahead of an approaching cold
front on Thursday. Seas increase from 1-2 feet tonight through
to 3-4 feet by Wednesday night.

Wednesday night through Saturday...Sub-SCA conditions continue
into Wednesday night with SSW flow around 10 to 20 kts on the
west side of offshore sfc high pressure. Winds and seas then
ramp up through the day Thursday as the pressure gradient
tightens with an approaching cold front. Overall, winds will be
15 to 20 kts within 20 nm with some higher gusts, and seas
mainly 3 to 5 ft Thu aftn into Thu evening. Therefore, at this
time, it does not look like a Small Craft Advisory will be
needed. Beyond 20 nm, in the 20-60 nm range, winds could reach
up to 20 to 25 kts with gusts to 30 and seas up to 6 ft Thu aftn
into Thu evening. Winds and seas will drop off after midnight
into Fri morning in offshore flow behind cold front.

Marine conditions improve for Fri and Sat as sfc high pressure
builds over the waters. Another increase in winds and seas will
occur late Sun into Mon as a cold front approaches the waters.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...DCH
KEY MESSAGES...ILM
DISCUSSION...ILM
AVIATION...21
MARINE...RGZ/21

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.