Beach Hazards Statement 11, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

745 
WHUS42 KMHX 260700
CFWMHX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
300 AM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026

NCZ196-203>205-261900-
/O.EXT.KMHX.BH.S.0011.260426T0700Z-260427T0000Z/
East Carteret-Northern Outer Banks-Ocracoke Island-
Hatteras Island-
300 AM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026

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

* WHAT...Strong longshore currents in the surf zone.

* WHERE...The beaches from Duck to Cape Hatteras, and Hatteras
  Inlet to Cape Lookout.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong longshore currents will create dangerous 
  swimming conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip
currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas. In many
cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers
from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it
difficult to return to shore.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
803 PM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Have issued Small Craft Advisories for all waters which start
tomorrow.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Severe drought conditions remain across North Carolina and
elevated fire concerns persist. An increased Fire Danger
Statement remains in place for much of the inland areas into
this evening.

2) Multiple chances for showers and thunderstorms over the next
several days with the best chances coming tonight into Sunday as a
front moves through. Next best chance looks to be on Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...No real changes to todays forecast at temps have
already gotten into the upper 80s across our inland zones and
mid 70s across the OBX with temps forecast to warm slightly
compared to current obs. With dewpoints in the 50s, RH's have
already dropped into the 20s to low 30s across portions of ENC
this afternoon with MinRH's forecast to be around 20-30% today.
Wind gusts could get as high as 20 mph at times especially
behind the seabreeze as it works its way inland. With ongoing
wildfires already occuring across ENC and the threat for easy
ignition of fires given the dry and gusty conditions, in
collaboration with the NCFS an Increased Fire Danger Statement
remains out out across Martin and Beaufort Counties and points
south until 8PM. With a cold front pushing through the area on
Sunday and rain in the forecast, don't expect any additional
Increased Fire Danger Statements out this weekend. But, the
shift in winds will be noticeable on Sun as gusts get to about
20-25 mph behind the front.

ENC remains under widespread drought conditions with just about the
entire area under severe drought (D2) conditions with a small sliver
of Martin county under extreme drought (D3) conditions. The lack of
rain continues to be rather noticeable across the Southeastern US,
with rainfall amounts since March 23 running about 10-50% below
normal. Locally here in ENC, this equates to rainfall totals running
about 2-5" below normal over that same time period. To add some
additional perspective, it would take roughly 9-12" of rain
over the course of one month to end the drought here in ENC.
Given the ongoing drought, fire weather will continue to be a
concern until a more substantial rain event occurs. Either way,
a statewide burn ban remains in effect for all of North
Carolina, with additional fire restrictions at all four national
forests in NC. Please see statements from the Forest Service
for additional information.

KEY MESSAGE 2...
No real changes in forecast thinking over the next several days
as ENC finally sees a more active precip pattern into next
weekend. We are already seeing some isolated showers develop
along the sea/sound/river breezes this afternoon, but the main
show will be tonight into Sunday as a surface low and its
associated frontal boundaries track E'wards across the Carolinas
as a mid level shortwave quickly transits across the Mid-
Atlantic. With low level moisture continuing to increase, expect
scattered showers and a few thunderstorms across ENC starting
from west to east this evening and becoming more widespread as
the night progresses and this activity gradually pushes towards
the coast. Guidance continues to suggest any storms that do
develop will likely remain sub-severe as deep layer shear
generally remains 25 kts or less, instability is meager, and
greatest forcing from the approaching front is located to the
north. Rainfall totals still look to generally remain below 0.5
inches overall, although could see higher amounts in
thunderstorms with some HiRes guidance showing localized areas
over one inch primarily along the coast and OBX. A decent N'rly
surge of winds will move over the area Sun afternoon into
Monday with high pressure ridging in from the north.

A progressive pattern will continue through the week with
guidance showing another low pressure system pushing across the
area on Wednesday followed by another southern stream system
potentially impacting the area next weekend. Latest trends
suggest an increasing rain threat for Wed and potentially a
more suppressed system over next weekend. Will note, run to run
consistency and agreement among the models continues to be
poor, so confidence is not that high in the forecast details but
it is encouraging to see a more active pattern emerging in the
models. While rainfall amounts through the week will likely not
have a tremendous impact with alleviating the drought, hopefully
precipitation and higher humidities will help reduce the
wildfire threat across the region.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
An upper level shortwave and an associated cold front will move
through ENC this evening and tonight with an increased risk of
SHRA and SCT TSRA. While widespread TSRA are not expected, this
will be the highest risk of TSRA this area has seen in some
time. After an initial risk of TSRA this evening, it looks like
the risk will lower for several hours tonight before
potentially redeveloping overnight into Sunday morning. A final
cold front will push south through the area late Sunday morning
into early Sunday afternoon with a notable northerly wind shift.
Gusty north winds are expected behind this front as well.

VFR CIGs this evening are expected to gradually lower through
tonight, potentially falling to as low as LIFR/IFR after 06z.
Low CIGs are then expected to last well into the day Sunday.
However, the IFR/LIFR CIG risk should lower through the day,
with mostly MVFR CIGs expected.

Outlook: Sub-VFR ceilings will likely continue through most of
tomorrow afternoon, with VFR conditions slowly returning from
west to east tomorrow night with NE flow continuing across the
area. Eventually high pressure builds close enough from the NW
to bring all areas up to VFR levels Tuesday.

&&

.MARINE...
SCA's from this morning have come to an end and our best boating
conditions for likely a large portion of the next several days
is currently over the area. Warm front located to the north has
begun to lift north, while a thermal trough has set up across
the Coastal Plain this afternoon. This has brought 10-15 kt SW
winds and gusts up to 20 kts across most of our waters today
with seas generally around 2-4 ft along the coastal waters. This
will last into tonight as the pressure gradient relaxes as a
low pressure system passes by to the north. However, as we get
into Sunday this low will deepen as it pushes offshore and as
its associated cold front tracks across our waters the gradient
will pinch between this departing low/front and incoming ridge
of high pressure to the north. This will allow for winds to
shift to a N'rly direction and quickly increase from north to
south late Sun morning into Sun evening. Behind the front 20-25
kt N'rly winds with gusts up towards 30-35 kts at times are
forecast across all waters by Sun evening. In response to the
elevated winds, seas will build to 7-10 ft north of Cape
Hatteras and 5-8 ft south of Cape Hatteras. The combination of
winds and seas will bring SCA conditions to all waters. While we
can't rule out a few gale force gusts especially across
portions of the coastal waters south of Hatteras Island and in
the Alligator River Bridge/Pamlico Sound, think gusts will be
infrequent enough to preclude a gale warning across these
waters.

Outlook: Northerly winds gradually diminish through mid week,
becoming less than 15 kt Tuesday into Wednesday as high pressure
builds overhead and deepening low pressure pushes out into the
central Atlantic. Seas will remain elevated, however, with SCA
conditions persisting across the nearshore coastal waters into
midweek.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT Sunday through Sunday
     evening for NCZ196-203>205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM Sunday to 2 PM EDT Monday for
     AMZ131-230-231.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Sunday to 8 PM EDT Monday for
     AMZ135.
     Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM Sunday to 8 AM EDT Monday for
     AMZ136-137.
     Small Craft Advisory from 11 AM Sunday to 2 AM EDT Wednesday
     for AMZ150.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Sunday to 2 PM EDT Wednesday
     for AMZ152-154.
     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Sunday to 2 AM EDT Wednesday
     for AMZ156-158.

&&

DISCUSSION...RCF
AVIATION...RM/SGK
MARINE...RCF

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
510 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

NCZ029-044-079-080-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-260915-
Martin-Pitt-Greene-Beaufort-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-
Northern Craven-Southern Craven-West Carteret-East Carteret-
Inland Onslow-Coastal Onslow-
510 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

An Increased Fire Danger statement has been issued for Saturday due
to breezy and dry conditions in tandem with ongoing drought
conditions.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ045>047-081-203>205-260915-
Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Mainland Hyde-Northern Outer Banks-
Ocracoke Island-Hatteras Island-
510 AM EDT Sat Apr 25 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.