Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 48, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

July 18, 20264 counties in North Carolina

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Jul 18, 2026, 7:36 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina. It took effect at Jul 19, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 18, 2026, 7:36 PM EDT (23:36 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 19, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
Jul 19, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

Counties Carteret County, NC, Dare County, NC, Hyde County, NC, Onslow County, NC

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:37 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, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 61 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 2026-07-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1377 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-07-18The 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
1377 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
975 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

325 
WHUS42 KMHX 182336
CFWMHX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
736 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NCZ195-196-199-204-205-191145-
/O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0048.260719T1200Z-260720T0000Z/
West Carteret-East Carteret-Coastal Onslow-Ocracoke Island-
Hatteras Island-
736 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents and strong longshore currents in 
  the surf zone.

* WHERE...The beaches from Cape Hatteras to Surf City.

* WHEN...From Sunday morning through Sunday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water. 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 6:30 PM Sunday.

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. 

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.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
183 
WHUS42 KMHX 190821
CFWMHX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
421 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

NCZ195-196-199-204-205-192030-
/O.CON.KMHX.BH.S.0048.260719T1200Z-260720T0000Z/
West Carteret-East Carteret-Coastal Onslow-Ocracoke Island-
Hatteras Island-
421 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS
MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents and strong longshore currents in 
  the surf zone.

* WHERE...The beaches from Cape Hatteras to Surf City.

* 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. 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 6:00 AM and 6:30 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. 

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.

&&

$$

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 Jul 18, 7:07 PM EDT, 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Hot and humid through the weekend, potentially lingering into the middle of week. 2) Unsettled pattern this weekend lasting into next week, including a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 7:07 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
707 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Hot and humid through the weekend, potentially lingering
into the middle of week.

2) Unsettled pattern this weekend lasting into next week,
including a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy
rainfall.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Hot and humid conditions will continue through
the weekend, peaking this afternoon. Heat Adv continues for the
area with heat index values 105-110 deg through early evening.
Heat Advisories will also need to be considered daily SUN into
the middle of next week, though we may see a dip in heat MON
with greater coverage of rain helping bump MaxTs into the upper
80s and low 90s.

KEY MESSAGE 2...There are several factors expected to support
an increasingly active pattern into next week.

Upper level troughing will continue to strengthen over the
Eastern U.S. with ridging shifting away from the area. Persistent
S-SWerly flow E of the trough, potentially with a subtropical
connection, should act to enhance low-mid level moisture across
the area. Meanwhile, heating of a moistening boundary layer
should lead to sufficient instability and reduced inhibition in
support of periods of convection.

At the surface, the front that sunk into the Albemarle Sound
yesterday has lifted back Nward into VA, acting to "warm-
sector" the entire FA for the weekend. Lee- side troughing and,
eventually, a frontal boundary that will reach the FA by MON
should provide areas of enhanced low- level forcing this
weekend with gradually improving mid and upper level flow
becoming more conducive to organized storm modes as trough aloft
sharpens. Bulk of guidance shows a mostly dry daytime forecast
with a dry at 850 remaining overhead until tonight. Though, some
more excitable HiRes solutions show pockets of increased
moisture shunted into the area from the high pressure offshore
leading to SChc PoPs. Isolated showers and storms developing to
the south and west early this afternoon...and may blossom a bit
with the seabreeze in the next few hours. Main concern will be
this evening, towards sunset with storms that develop W and N
of the FA closer to the approaching front and with greater mid
and upper level support. These storms are forecast to be
weakening while they cross the Nern half of the FA from W to E.
Should more organized cells persist, they will carry a threat
of damaging wind gusts. As such, SPC has inland portions of the
FA outlined in a Marginal Risk (lvl 1/5) of severe thunderstorms.

Sunday, the SFC front will enter and stall over the Nern half of
the FA. SPC's day 2 outlook for SUN features a Slight Risk (lvl
2/5) for the bulk of the area. Moisture pooling and low level
convergence will be maximized SUN afternoon into SUN night as
the cold front approaches. PWATs peak on the order of 2 and
3/4in with increasing afternoon and evening instability through
the weekend. Main concerns will be the potential for damaging
wind gusts, heavy rain and freq lightning late afternoon into
Sun night. WPC has upgraded most of the region into Slight Risk
for flood potential Sun.

Additionally, while guidance remains mixed, there is a modest
signal for low pressure development across the northeastern
Gulf. The National Hurricane Center has increased probability
of development a bit to 30/40% over the next 2/7 days. Though
no explicitly tropical impacts are expected from this system
locally, this low could act to enhance rainfall along the SE
coast by further increase Gulf moisture transport from its Eern
half through early next week while SUN's front lingers across
the region.

Tropics aside, deterministic and machine learning guidance
continue to show a good signal for some strong to marginally
severe thunderstorm potential during this period of active
weather. Right now the signal is the strongest on Sunday. Though
this could be dependent on convection tonight and how much
destabilization is possible Sun. Given increased forcing from
the approaching front and the potential tap of subtropical
moisture, heavy rain and some hydro impacts may eventually be
realized.

A stronger front is forecast to approach and cross the area WED
into THU, posing the next threat for severe weather later in the
forecast period. SPC and WPC currently have the area outlooked
for potential stronger storms and heavy rain.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions persist early this evening with thick cirrus
flooding over northern terminals from vigorous conditions
ongoing across Virginia. Only appreciable convective threat will
come from current broken line pushing across KGSO which will
approach terminals north of ISO after 02z. Activity likely to
decay as it pushes further south, so opted to only keep PROB30
mentions for PGV. Fog highly unlikely tonight with steady
southwest winds around 10 kt but some low stratus possible
around dawn.

Better convective coverage expected tomorrow afternoon and
evening, developing farther north and pushing south through the
evening hours, which could lead to periods of sub- VFR. A few
stronger storms are also possible, with potential for damaging
wind gusts, heavy rain and frequent lightning.

Outlook (Sunday night through Thursday): The risk of TSRA
increases tomorrow night when a front enters and stalls over
the area through early next week. Sub-VFR conditions can be
expected along with the TSRA impacts. Renewed TSRA risk stays on
the table for Monday. Another approaching front renews shower
and thunderstorm chances.

&&

.MARINE...
Latest surface and buoy obs indicate S-SW winds 10-20 kt with
seas 2-3 ft. Moderate SSW winds will increase to 20-30 kt this
evening, peaking tonight around midnight. SCAs continue for the
Neuse/Bay Rvrs, Pamlico Sound and nearshore coastal waters. Over
the outer coastal waters, a few gale-force gusts will be
possible tonight into Sunday morning, but probs look low. Seas
will quickly respond to the winds, building to 4-7 ft tonight.
Moderate to strong SW winds will continue Sunday, stronger south
of Hatteras with seas 3-6 ft.

Outlook (Sunday night through Thursday): SUN's front stalls
over the area lingering through early next week. Keeping
elevated winds, seas, and tstorm chances in the forecast. For
the outer waters, elevated winds and seas may last for much of
the week. A stronger front is forecast to approach and cross
regional waters mid to late week, bringing another round of
strengthening SW winds and tstorm chances, mainly later Tue and
Wed.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for NCZ029-044>047-
     079>081-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-203>205.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until noon EDT Sunday for AMZ135.
     Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Sunday for AMZ137.
     Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Sunday for AMZ150.
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Monday for AMZ152-154.
     Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Monday for AMZ156-158.

&&

DISCUSSION...CQD/CEB
AVIATION...CQD/MS
MARINE...CQD
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 4:48 AM EDT, 14 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
448 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

NCZ195-196-199-204-205-190900-
West Carteret-East Carteret-Coastal Onslow-Ocracoke Island-
Hatteras Island-
448 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING
THROUGH THIS EVENING...
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT 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.

   Moderate Rip Current Risk.
   Heat Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Scattered strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible
Sunday afternoon and evening. Greatest threat is for storms to
produce strong wind gusts.

Dangerous heat could linger into the middle of next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193-194-198-203-190900-
Martin-Pitt-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Greene-Beaufort-
Mainland Hyde-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-Northern Craven-
Southern Craven-Inland Onslow-Northern Outer Banks-
448 AM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT 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.

   Heat Advisory.

Scattered strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible
this evening into tonight. Greatest threat is for storms to produce
strong wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

There is greater potential for strong to severe storms on Sunday and
Sunday night. The greatest threat is for storms to produce strong
wind gusts and bring periods of heavy downpours which could lead to
localized flooding.

Dangerous heat could linger into the middle of next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 1:34 AM EDTHeat AdvisoryMHXBeaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Greene and 9 more18 hr

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.