Strong rip currents combined with a heavy beach crowd caused over 25 rip related rescues at North Myrtle Beach.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ILM wrote it up.
Strong rip currents combined with a heavy beach crowd caused over 25 rip related rescues at North Myrtle Beach.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 8:36 AM EST, 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 936 AM EDT Sat May 26 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Bermuda high pressure will provide warm and humid summertime weather to the Carolinas today and Sunday. Moisture surging northward from Alberto, will lead to periods of heavy rain at times Monday through Wednesday. Because of soggy ground in many areas, problematic flooding may occur in some spots. Showers and thunderstorms will become less widespread Thursday and Friday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 936 AM Saturday...Adjustments were needed to scale back pop values in the early going, but by 16z-17z, isolated to scattered coverage of convection in moderate showers should line along a zone of sea breeze convergence. This zone will march NNW taking the better updrafts with it, clearing west of forecast area by 7-8 pm. No exhaust support aloft for convection until above 200 mb, so many cells are apt to choke themselves out while moving to the north, collapsing. Isolated coverage +SHRA areas, should greatly limit the threat of even localized flooding today. As of 300 AM Saturday...A 500 mb trough extending from the lower Mississippi Valley down into the Gulf of Mexico and into Subtropical Storm Alberto should become better defined this afternoon and tonight. A ridge downstream of this trough will bow northwestward across North Carolina from a center well offshore. Beneath this ridge, deep southerly flow from the Caribbean will continue to spread across the area. Precipitable water values are expected to range from 1.6 to 1.7 inches, but probably would be higher if it weren't for a modest subsidence inversion developing beneath the upper ridge this afternoon. With CAPE values rising into the 1000-1500 J/kg range later today, the somewhat drier air aloft and lack of upper disturbances will be two factors likely mitigating shower/t-storm activity from affecting more than about 30 percent of the area. A moderate seabreeze may help focus convection as it moves inland today. Isolated showers this morning along the coast should transition inland this afternoon, and could be joined by a few thunderstorms due to deeper daytime instability. Cell motion should be northeastward at 15 mph, and weak wind shear should limit storm organization. Highs today should range from the upper 80s inland to the lower 80s on the beaches. Dewpoints around 70 degrees will push heat indices into the lower 90s. Any lingering convective activity should wrap up early this evening, with dry conditions expected overnight. Some of the cirrus outflow ahead of Alberto could begin to move into coastal South Carolina late tonight. Lows 70-73. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM Saturday...At the start of this period, Tropical Cyclone Alberto will be doing his thing in the Gulf of Mexico. It's counter clockwise circulation and Bermuda high's clockwise circulation, will both work together and siphon tropical moisture northward and across the area starting midday Sunday and lasting thru Monday Night. The heaviest pcpn will occur Sunday night thru Monday afternoon. Model soundings continue to advertise PWs increasing to between 2.00 and 2.20 inches late Sunday night and continuing thruout Monday with K indices progged in the mid 30s. All of this spells the good possibility of heavy rain producing showers and thunderstorms. Pops will increase to Categorical by or during Sun night and persist thru much of Mon. At this point, will indicate this heavy rain potential in the HWO. Will however, refrain from issuing any FF Watches at this time but would not be surprised if eventually one is issued due to favorable antecedent conditions. As for temps, Sun will be the warmer of the 2 days, however, diurnal temp ranges will decrease-some Sun night thru Mon night given clouds, pcpn, and the tropical airmass. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 300 PM Friday...A deep feed of tropical moisture will stream into the Carolinas Mon through Wed as Alberto tracks very slowly north then northeast from the Gulf coast. Pcp water values will be well above normal, near 2.3 inches, for a few days. Periods of locally heavy rainfall will increase the risk of flooding across the area. At this point it is tough to pinpoint exactly which areas will be more likely to see the heaviest rainfall, but a flash flood watch is looking quite probable at this point. The rainfall should be diurnally enhanced with a greater chance inland during the day and along the coast overnight. The tropical system or eventual remnant low will move north, reaching almost due west by Wed night into Thurs, but should be a good distance away. At this point some drier air may wrap into the local area, but overall plenty of clouds and chc of showers will continue Thurs and possibly Fri, as well. The local forecast area should not see any direct impacts from Alberto, just a continuous tropical feed of moisture for several days. && .AVIATION /14Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 12Z...LIFR cigs are occurring at KFLO/KLBT. Coastal terminals are VFR. VFR expected at the inland terminals 13-14Z. Tempo MVFR possible all terminals through 17Z. Latest guidance indicates isolated showers developing coastal terminals this morning, then best chances for showers shift to the inland terminals this afternoon. Have included tempo groups for MVFR with the showers inland terminals this afternoon. Convection then slowly dissipates 01-02Z. After midnight Z MVFR cigs become likely at the coastal terminals with IFR at the inland terminals. Extended outlook...VFR except for morning patchy MVFR/IFR in fog. Tropical moisture will be returning to the area Sun-Tue with more widespread thunderstorms with periods of IFR ceilings/visibility possible. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 936 AM Saturday...The ocean spectrum will feature SE waves today, in 8 second intervals around 2 feet, mixed with a light southerly chop. No TSTMS expected over the 0-20 NM waters until Sunday. Very manageable marine conditions to prevail through tonight. SSTS inshore presently in the middle 70s. As of 300 AM Saturday...Bermuda high pressure extends westward near the latitude of Savannah, GA. This should maintain a southerly wind across the Carolina coastal waters today and tonight. This afternoon's seabreeze should be moderate in strength, with nearshore wind speeds increasing to around 15 knots. Isolated showers early this morning may expand a bit in coverage through 7-9 AM, but should largely dissipate by noon. Buoy reports show nearshore wave heights are around 2 feet, with 3 feet reported from farther offshore. Southerly fetch extending down to the Bahamas should allow these waves to build by another 1 to 1.5 feet by this evening in a combination of southeasterly 8-second swell and local 4 to 5 second wind chop. .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... As of 300 AM Saturday...At the start of this period, the sfc ridge axis will extend west from the Bermuda high and onshore in the vicinity of Cape Fear. This positioning will hold during Sunday resulting in Southerly winds south of the axis and southwest north of the axis. The sfc pg initially relaxed somewhat, is progged to slightly tighten once the sfc ridge axis lifts or gets pushed north of the local waters by Mon morning. Winds will become southerly thruout. Wind speeds around 10 kt at the beginning of this period and 10 to 15 kt or around 15 kt late Sun night thru Mon Night. Significant seas will peak 3 to 5 ft Sun night thru Mon night with 6 footers off Cape Fear and Romain respectively. Showers and thunderstorms will become widespread by late Sun thru Mon night as the slug of tropical moisture lifts up to and across the area. Common visibilities in the 1 to 3 nm range will accompany this pcpn...and near 0 nm in the heavier pcpn associated with stronger convection. LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 300 PM Friday...Southerly winds will continue across the waters mainly between 5 to 15 kts. The persistent southerly push will keep seas between 3 and 6 ft most of the period, with highest seas most likely Wed night. There is some uncertainty based on the future of Alberto, the first named tropical system moving north from the Gulf of Mexico next week. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...MJC NEAR TERM...TRA/MJC SHORT TERM...DCH LONG TERM...RGZ AVIATION...MRR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington NC 245 AM EDT Sat May 26 2018 NCZ087-096-099-105>110-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059- 270645- Robeson-Bladen-Columbus-Inland Pender-Coastal Pender- Inland New Hanover-Coastal New Hanover-Inland Brunswick- Coastal Brunswick-Marlboro-Darlington-Dillon-Florence-Marion- Williamsburg-Coastal Horry-Inland Georgetown-Coastal Georgetown- Central Horry-Northern Horry- 245 AM EDT Sat May 26 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The potential for heavy rainfall will increase beginning Sunday night as moisture well east of Subtropical Storm Alberto reaches the Carolinas. Flooding, possibly significant flooding, may develop as across portions of the eastern Carolinas Monday through Wednesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. AMZ250-252-254-256-270645- Coastal waters from Surf City to Cape Fear NC out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out 20 nm- Coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 nm- 245 AM EDT Sat May 26 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the adjacent Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Small Craft Advisory conditions are possible Sunday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. 9
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong rip currents combined with a heavy beach crowd caused over 25 rip related rescues at North Myrtle Beach.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2018
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 755928.