Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026
Beach Hazards Statement 12, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Apr 26, 2026, 8:40 PM EDT for Carteret County, Dare County, Hyde County, North Carolina. It took effect at Apr 27, 2026, 3:05 AM EDT. It was in force for 17 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 26, 2026, 8:40 PM EDT (00:40 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 27, 2026, 3:05 AM EDT
- Expired
- Apr 27, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 17 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
Counties Carteret County, NC, Dare County, NC, Hyde County, NC
The radar
The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:40 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, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 92 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 654 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 11 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -49 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 33 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
779 WHUS42 KMHX 270040 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 840 PM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 NCZ203-205-271245- /O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0012.260427T1200Z-260428T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 840 PM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY EVENING NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents, large breaking waves expected, and strong longshore currents in the surf zone. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Monday through Monday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom causing neck and back injuries. Strong longshore currents will create dangerous swimming conditions. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The most likely time for strong rip currents to occur is a couple hours either side of low tide, which will occur around 11:00 AM Monday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Life-threatening rip currents. If caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim in a direction following the shoreline. If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Shore break occurs when waves break directly on the beach. It is extremely important to protect your head and neck whenever you are in breaking waves by keeping your hands in front of you at all times. 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. && $$ NCZ196-204-271245- /O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0012.260427T1200Z-260428T0000Z/ East Carteret-Ocracoke Island- 840 PM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY EVENING NORTH OF CAPE LOOKOUT... * WHAT...Strong longshore currents in the surf zone. * WHERE...Ocracoke Island and Core Banks beaches. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Monday through Monday evening. * IMPACTS...Strong longshore currents will create dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas. In many cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it difficult to return to shore. && $$ Martin
2 follow-up statements
330 WHUS42 KMHX 270705 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 305 AM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 NCZ203-205-271915- /O.EXT.KMHX.BH.S.0012.260427T0705Z-260428T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 305 AM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING north of Cape Hatteras... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents, large breaking waves, and strong longshore currents in the surf zone. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom causing neck and back injuries. Strong longshore currents will create dangerous swimming conditions. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The most likely time for strong rip currents to occur is a couple hours either side of low tide, which will occur around 1130 AM. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Life-threatening rip currents. If caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim in a direction following the shoreline. If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Shore break occurs when waves break directly on the beach. It is extremely important to protect your head and neck whenever you are in breaking waves by keeping your hands in front of you at all times. 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. && $$ NCZ196-204-271915- /O.EXT.KMHX.BH.S.0012.260427T0705Z-260428T0000Z/ East Carteret-Ocracoke Island- 305 AM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING north of Cape Lookout... * WHAT...Strong longshore currents in the surf zone. * WHERE...Ocracoke Island and Core Banks beaches. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong longshore currents will create dangerous swimming conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas. In many cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it difficult to return to shore. && $$
348 WHUS42 KMHX 280023 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 823 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 NCZ203-205-281230- /O.EXP.KMHX.BH.S.0012.000000T0000Z-260428T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0013.260428T1200Z-260429T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 823 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves expected in the surf zone. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Tuesday through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom causing neck and back injuries. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The most likely time for strong rip currents to occur is a couple hours either side of low tide, which will occur around 11:45 AM Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Life-threatening rip currents. If caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim in a direction following the shoreline. If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Shore break occurs when waves break directly on the beach. It is extremely important to protect your head and neck whenever you are in breaking waves by keeping your hands in front of you at all times. && $$ NCZ196-204-280130- /O.EXP.KMHX.BH.S.0012.000000T0000Z-260428T0000Z/ East Carteret-Ocracoke Island- 823 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED... Beach Hazard Statement has expired. $$
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 Newport/Morehead City, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at Apr 26, 7:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) Rain will come to an end this evening along the Coast with a much cooler 24 hours on tap across ENC. 2) A progressive pattern continues this week with additional opportunities for rain mid week and again next weekend. Marine: Hazardous marine conditions expected across all our waters into Monday night with elevated seas persisting across our coastal waters into midweek.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 7:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
729 PM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Made adjustments to near term temps and dewpoints to capture
recent trends behind a cold front that has moved offshore.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Rain will come to an end this evening along the Coast with a
much cooler 24 hours on tap across ENC.
2) A progressive pattern continues this week with additional
opportunities for rain mid week and again next weekend.
Marine: Hazardous marine conditions expected across all our waters
into Monday night with elevated seas persisting across our coastal
waters into midweek.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Previously mentioned cold front has moved offshore
as of this update with lingering light rain along the Crystal Coast
and OBX. Any leftover rain is forecast to move offshore within the
next few hours as the area gradually drys out with high pressure
building in from the north. As of 2PM, MRMS suggests around 1.5-2.5"
with locally higher amounts in Downeast Carteret County and near the
immediate coast have fallen along the Crystal Coast, 0.25-0.75" of
rain has fallen along the NOBX and Inner Coastal Plain and 0.5-1.25"
of rain has fallen across the western Coastal Plain bringing some
much needed rain to the area.
Surface low associated with this aforementioned cold front has been
recently analyzed about 200 miles east of Delaware. This low is
forecast to deepen through tonight while moving little, tightening
the pressure gradient between this low and a ridge of high pressure
centered to the north and west. This will bring breezy N'rly winds
and CAA to ENC this evening and tonight with gusts around 20-30 mph.
Temps have already begun to lower this afternoon as ENC seeing temps
falling into the 50s to low 60s. Temps will continue to fall tonight
with lows forecast to be in the upper 40s to near 50 while highs
tomorrow return are slightly below avg with temps only getting into
the upper 50s to 60s.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Not much change in forecast thinking going forward
as a progressive pattern will continue through the week with another
low pressure system progged to push across the area late Wednesday
followed by another southern stream system potentially impacting the
area next weekend. Latest guidance in best agreement with the mid
week system while run to run consistency among the models continues
to be poor for the system next weekend with the possibility for it
to be suppressed to the south, so confidence is not that high in the
forecast details but it is encouraging to see a more active pattern
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 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
A few light showers are lingering along the coast this evening
with widespread MVFR ceilings across ENC. 1000-2000 ft ceilings
are expected to persist through mid- to late-morning tomorrow with
VFR conditions thereafter. Winds will remain out of the NE at
10-15 kt with gusts to 15-20 kt through early tomorrow evening
when they will decrease to 5-10 kt and become more easterly.
Outlook: High pressure and generally VFR conditions are expected
through Wednesday. Another front and weak low may bring sub VFR
with some showers on Thursday, exiting on Friday.
&&
.MARINE...
As expected marine conditions have quickly deteriorated today
as the pressure gradient tightens between a deepening low to our
north and east and an incoming ridge of high pressure centered
to the north. Rain and thunderstorm activity is gradually
pushing further out to sea but could see a few rumbles of
thunder across our far offshore waters into tonight before
precip ends. In addition to this, much of the area is already
seeing N-NE winds at 20-25 kts with gusts up to 25-30 kts while
seas have begun to build north of Cape Hatteras to 5-8 ft with
4-6 ft seas noted south of Hatteras. These hazardous marine
conditions will remain in place through tonight keeping ongoing
small craft advisories in place. Cannot rule out a few gusts
approaching Gale force this evening but overall probabilities
are less than 40%. Seas will continue to build this afternoon
peaking around 7-10 ft north of Cape Hatteras and 5-8 ft south
of Cape Hatteras tonight. Conditions will then begin to
gradually ease on Monday as the gradient weakens as deepening
low pushes further out to sea allowing for winds across the
inland waters to decrease to 15-20 kts by Mon evening ending
small craft conditions here. Along the coastal waters winds
will take slightly longer to ease and with elevated swell still
impacting the area, expect small craft conditions to last
beyond Mon at these locations.
Outlook: Northerly winds continue to ease on Tue becoming less than
15 kt as high pressure builds overhead. Seas will remain elevated,
however, with SCA conditions persisting across portions of the
nearshore coastal waters into Wednesday. Another low pressure system
is progged to pass north of the area Wednesday night and could see
minor SCA conditions over portions of the nearshore coastal waters
redevelop Wednesday night into Thursday.
&&
.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ196-
203>205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Monday for AMZ131-230-231.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM EDT Monday for AMZ135.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM EDT Monday for AMZ136-137.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ150.
Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Wednesday for AMZ152-154.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Tuesday for AMZ156-158.
&&
DISCUSSION...RCF
AVIATION...OJC
MARINE...RCFHazardous weather outlook, Apr 26, 4:20 AM EDT, 16 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 420 AM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>195-198-199-270830- Martin-Pitt-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Greene-Beaufort- Mainland Hyde-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-Northern Craven- Southern Craven-West Carteret-Inland Onslow-Coastal Onslow- 420 AM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ196-203>205-270830- East Carteret-Northern Outer Banks-Ocracoke Island-Hatteras Island- 420 AM EDT Sun Apr 26 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR STRONG LONGSHORE CURRENTS FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TO DUCK... ...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FROM CAPE LOOKOUT TO DUCK... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Beach Hazards Statement. Moderate Rip Current Risk. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Nearby
Beach 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.