Alert archive / North Carolina / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 57, NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

August 5, 2026Carteret County, Onslow County, North Carolina

NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC issued this beach hazards statement at Aug 5, 2026, 10:53 AM EDT for Carteret County, Onslow County, North Carolina. It was in force for 9 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 5, 2026, 10:53 AM EDT (14:53 UTC)
Expired
Aug 5, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Newport/Morehead City, NC

Counties Carteret County, NC, Onslow County, NC

The radar

The Morehead City radar (KMHX), 9 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:52 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, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 8 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 2026-08-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1640 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-08-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 47 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
1640 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
635 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

750 
WHUS42 KMHX 051453
CFWMHX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
1053 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

NCZ195-196-199-060000-
/O.NEW.KMHX.BH.S.0057.260805T1453Z-260806T0000Z/
West Carteret-East Carteret-Coastal Onslow-
1053 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

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

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT 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 7:30 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.

&&

$$

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 Aug 5, 3:56 AM EDT, 6 hours 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Last day of above average precip chances today, with localized instances of minor flooding possible. 2) Return to a more typical summertime pattern Thursday onwards.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 3:56 AM EDT, 6 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
356 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No major changes through the period.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Last day of above average precip chances today, with
localized instances of minor flooding possible.

2) Return to a more typical summertime pattern Thursday onwards.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...At the moment, there is a weak coastal trough
that is moving through the coastal Carolinas, bringing scatered
to numerous showers producing wind gusts 20-30 knots. As the
trough and associated precip shifts north into ENC, it will
encounter a more stable environment inland and showers should
gradually weaken. However along the coast we still have plenty
of instability and some moisture convergence, so showers should
keep their strength if not strengthen along the coast and for
offshore waters through the early morning hours. Coverage of
showers along the ENC coast this morning is uncertain however.

Beyond this morning, today the last day of a weak stalled
trough over the TN Valley before it further weakens and gets
swept up by a stronger trough over the great lakes. This upper
level forcing today, results in one last day of above average
chances of showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of the sea
breeze. This is aided by the continued southerly flow and record
high PWATs for the day observed in the KMHX soundings in the
past 24 hours. While storm motions should be progressive,
storms will be capable of dropping a quick 1-2 inches, resulting
in minor flooding concerns. If we get enough breaks in the
clouds this afternoon, instability could climb to near 3,000
J/kg, which would bring a concern of wet microbursts. After we
lose daytime heating, rain chances go down drastically. for
tonight.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Thursday onwards area returns to climo or below
climo PoPs as a lack of mid level shortwaves or significant
forcing will be noted across Eastern NC. This will likely result
in daily chances for showers and thunderstorms along the sea-
breeze, but once again these chances should be isolated at best
given the overall setup. After a cool start to the week
temperatures begin to rebound back into the upper 80s to low 90s
inland and mid 80s along the OBX.

&&

.AVIATION /07Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Mainly VFR has continued at TAF sites early this morning despite
the moist southerly flow for days with near calm winds. and a
lack of mid-level clouds. As we approach sunrise, the threat for
sub-VFR vis and cig continue. A few showers this morning are
possible, with a better chance of showers and thunderstorms this
afternoon Rain chances quickly dwindle after sunset with a loss
of daytime heating, with sub-VFR chances returning again
tonight.

Outlook (Thursday through Sunday): Precip chances and thus the
threat for sub-VFR conditions look to decrease Thursday into
the weekend as high pressure builds into the area.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds remain below 20 knots out of the south, with waves 2-4 ft
as high pressure ridges over the area through the week,
resulting in pleasant boating conditions outside of any
shower/tstorm chances.

Outlook (Thursday through Saturday): Expect more benign winds
and seas for the period as high pressure remains the dominant
feature across the region. Winds generally remain below 15 kts
and seas persist around 2-4 ft into the weekend.

&&

.MHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Beach Hazards Statement from 8 AM EDT this morning through
     this evening for NCZ195-196-199-204-205.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...RJ
AVIATION...RJ
MARINE...RJ
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 5, 4:16 AM EDT, 6 hours 37 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
416 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193-194-198-060830-
Martin-Pitt-Washington-Tyrrell-Mainland Dare-Greene-Beaufort-
Mainland Hyde-Duplin-Lenoir-Jones-Pamlico-Northern Craven-
Southern Craven-Inland Onslow-
416 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern North Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms can bring locally heavy rain and
wind gusts up to 40 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

NCZ195-196-199-203>205-060830-
West Carteret-East Carteret-Coastal Onslow-Northern Outer Banks-
Ocracoke Island-Hatteras Island-
416 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING
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.

   Moderate Rip Current Risk.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms can bring locally heavy rain and
wind gusts up to 40 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.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
Aug 4, 8:11 PM EDTBeach Hazards StatementMHXCarteret, Dare, Hyde, Onslow8 hr
Aug 5, 6:23 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningMHX67 min

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.