Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026
Beach Hazards Statement 14, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Apr 28, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT for Dare County, North Carolina. It took effect at Apr 29, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 28, 2026, 8:10 PM EDT (00:10 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 29, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
- Expired
- Apr 29, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 12 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC
County Dare County, NC
The radar
The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:12 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, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 150 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
- 1233 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 92 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
587 WHUS42 KMHX 290010 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 810 PM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 NCZ203-205-291215- /O.EXP.KMHX.BH.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260429T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0014.260429T1200Z-260430T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 810 PM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Wednesday through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. * 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 12:26 PM Wednesday. 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. && $$
2 follow-up statements
986 WHUS42 KMHX 290700 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 300 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NCZ203-205-291900- /O.CON.KMHX.BH.S.0014.260429T1200Z-260430T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 300 AM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The most likely time for strong rip currents to occur is a couple hours either side of low tide, which will occur around 1 pm. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Life-threatening rip currents. If caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim in a direction following the shoreline. If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$
095 WHUS42 KMHX 300009 CFWMHX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 809 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NCZ203-205-301215- /O.EXP.KMHX.BH.S.0014.000000T0000Z-260430T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0015.260430T1200Z-260501T0000Z/ Northern Outer Banks-Hatteras Island- 809 PM EDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...The beaches north of Cape Hatteras. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. * 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 1:00 PM Thursday. 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. && $$ Martin
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 28, 8:05 PM EDT, 5 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1.) A couple of shortwaves will bring chances for rain Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. There is a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms storms on Wednesday afternoon. 2.) More rain chances arrive this weekend as a low pressure system develops off of the southeast coast on Saturday and drags a frontal system through the area Saturday night. Marine: Elevated seas will continue to bring SCA conditions across the coastal waters north of Ocracoke Inlet into tonight. Low end SCA conditions possible Wednesday night into early Thursday for portions of the coastal waters.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 8:05 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
805 PM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Short term models show lower precipitation chances for Wednesday as a
weakening shortwave approaches the area. There will still be a brief
period during the afternoon where pop up thunderstorms will be
possible.
Continued this trend with the evening update by lowering PoPs
some as well as blending in some fresher guidance into QPF grids
to show the spottier coverage.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1.) A couple of shortwaves will bring chances for rain Wednesday and
Thursday afternoons. There is a Marginal Risk of severe
thunderstorms storms on Wednesday afternoon.
2.) More rain chances arrive this weekend as a low pressure system
develops off of the southeast coast on Saturday and drags a frontal
system through the area Saturday night.
Marine: Elevated seas will continue to bring SCA conditions across
the coastal waters north of Ocracoke Inlet into tonight. Low end SCA
conditions possible Wednesday night into early Thursday for portions
of the coastal waters.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...For the rest of today, a weakening shortwave will
bring cloud cover to the area with a very small chance of
precipitation before our focus turns to the next wave. On Wednesday,
a low pressure system will move out of the mid-Mississippi Valley
and push northward through the Ohio Valley, guided by a weak upper
level trough. Short term models are showing much more meager rain
chances and may keep eastern portions of the area dry till afternoon
or later. In a similar theme, instability driving any potential
convection looks to stay well below 500J/Kg until very late in the
afternoon/early evening. While we remain in a Marginal Risk across
the entire forecast area, western portions of the area could realize
more of the instability during the afternoon hours with eastern
areas more towards sunset.
Following in its footsteps, another shortwave will move off of the
SC/GA coast on Thursday. Models show it somewhat disorganized and
our forecast area on the northern fringe of any precipitation or
convective activity. PoPs generally reside in the slight chance to
low chance regime which is lower than Wednesday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Turning attention to the weekend, our next
chance for significant rainfall to try and eat into the
persisting drought over the area will be on Saturday as a low
pressure develops off of the southeast coast and works its way
over eastern NC. As this is happening an upper level low
centered over Ontario and Quebec will work to deepen an upper
level trough that will begin to push a supporting wave out of
Texas which will eventually elongate into the frontal system
that will accompany the coastal low. The merged systems will
push through Saturday night into Sunday and move offshore but
not before some significant rainfall with at least the southern
half of the area having a 50% chance of at least an inch of
rainfall.
As far as convection is concerned, currently most of the instability
remains offshore but strong deep layer shear could help sustain any
convection that initiates. Still a lot of uncertainty in the models
regarding how strong the low will get and will have to monitor as
the system gets closer.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
VFR flight cats will hold for the remainder of this evening and
early tonight. Previous forecast called for the potential
development of patchy fog across interior ENC as the low levels
become saturated overnight with light to calm winds. Occasional
mid and high based cloud cover will likely limit the fog from
becoming dense, and generally 4-5 miles MVFR level fog is
expected at this time overnight into early tomorrow morning.
This evening's model suite is not excited about this potential
and probabilistic guidance suggests SChc (generally less than
25% chance) of this happening with little consensus about where
fog may develop. Have converted the prevailing MVFR VIS lines to
6sm MIFG with TEMPO groups for all terminals (now including EWN
as well, which was omitted in 18Z TAFs). VFR flight cats return
soon after sunrise, but CIGs will be lowering through the
morning as rain showers approach from the W in advance of a
frontal system. MVFR CIGs will likely develop early to mid
afternoon as rain and thunderstorm chances increase with blended
guidance suggesting IFR is possible. Have introduced SCT IFR
decks WED afternoon/evening to show this possibility.
Outlook: MVFR conditions will continue tomorrow night until
showers and thunderstorms exit off the coast, and then VFR is
expected through the rest of the work week. Winds generally in
the 5-15 kt range through the period. Another low pressure
system may bring widespread rain for the weekend and a return to
sub VFR conditions.
&&
.MARINE...
Based on latest guidance, have extended the Small Craft Advisory
for the northern waters to 9z Wednesday for seas of 6 feet. This
is mainly for outer portions of the 20 nm zone as areas closer to
shore should remain under the 6ft threshold.
Current observations showing easterly winds around 15 kt or less
with seas around 3-5 ft in most areas. Winds will become variable
today as high pressure transits the area, becoming southerly late
tonight but should remain less than 15 kt.
Outlook: A low pressure system is progged to pass north of the area
Wednesday night and could see low end SCA conditions over the
nearshore coastal waters S of Oregon Inlet redevelop late Wednesday
afternoon night into Thursday. Another low pressure system may pass
across or just south of the waters late in the week which could
bring another chance for small craft advisory criteria to be met.
&&
.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Beach Hazards Statement until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ203-
205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ150.
Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Wednesday for AMZ152-154.
&&
DISCUSSION...RTE
AVIATION...CEB
MARINE...RTEHazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 4:50 AM EDT, 15 hours 20 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC 450 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>195-198-199-290900- Martin-Pitt-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Greene-Beaufort- Mainland Hyde-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-Northern Craven- Southern Craven-West Carteret-Inland Onslow-Coastal Onslow- 450 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday, the strongest of which could be capable of producing damaging wind gusts. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ205-290900- Hatteras Island- 450 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING north of Cape Hatteras... ...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING south of Cape Hatteras... 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...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ203-290900- Northern Outer Banks- 450 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ196-204-290900- East Carteret-Ocracoke Island- 450 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 ...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING north of Cape Lookout... 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. Moderate Rip Current Risk. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. 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.