Moderate to strong rip current activity led to multiple rescues at New Hanover County beaches.
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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.
Moderate to strong rip current activity led to multiple rescues at New Hanover County beaches.
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 Jul 6, 8:27 AM EST, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 927 AM EDT Tue Jul 6 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Dry high pressure over the region will today give way to increasing moisture and winds by late Wednesday, as tropical system Elsa crosses the area into Thursday. In wake of Elsa, typical summer conditions will be trending, with easing southwest winds across the region late week into the weekend. && .UPDATE... No significant changes with this update. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... Dry Continental air will continue to advect lightly from the west over the area above 10,000 feet through late tonight, before backing column winds bring an influx of deeper moisture, as the circulation of Elsa moves across northern Florida to coastal Georgia and South Carolina Wednesday. Locally not much action at all today through most of Wednesday, aside from isolated showers today NE SC interior, and better showers chances or a TSTM Wednesday, but only scattered in coverage, partially spurred by weak outer pressure field convergence from Elsa. Thus no weather hazards through this period, but worsening conditions unfold into Wednesday night. Summer warm temperatures today and Wednesday, but a little cooler Wednesday mainly because of the increase in clouds. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... All focus will be on the remnants of Elsa moving across overnight Wednesday into early Thursday. Really no significant changes to the track or intensity from NHC and therefore for the public part of the forecast from ILM. Likely to categorical pops are obviously in play decreasing rapidly later Thursday. Interesting to note some of the high resolution guidance is now in the time domain with the system coming across. They seem to like one significant tropical band if you will with more stratiform type rain most of the other time. Timing is of low confidence but the fact there may be a band worthy of producing spinners is a bit higher. Friday will see a revert back to the norm per say with summertime conditions. The Piedmont Trough will develop along with the sea breeze and serve as catalysts for convection. As for temperatures a little on the cool side possible Thursday for highs per the moisture although its worth noting the remnants of Elsa will be moving quickly and there may be ample sun, that is if the timing remains the same. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Typical July conditions will persist for the weekend into early next week. The mid level ridge will more or less build across the area but doesn't seem sufficiently potent to hold off afternoon and evening convection. There are at least some hints of more limited convection at the end of the period but confidence is low. Checking temperatures, nothing notable with mostly seasonal values. && .AVIATION /14Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Variable winds this morning will come onshore by early afternoon. There will be concentrated CU formation along the sea breeze, with possible isolated convection. VFR tonight with pockets of ground fog near sunrise on Wednesday. Extended Outlook...Flight restrictions possible Wednesday and Thursday with Elsa approaching and crossing the area. At a minimum we can expect an increase in flight winds, and the potential for periods of heavy rain. Unsettled weather may bring continued flight restrictions with scattered thunderstorms through the coming weekend. && .MARINE... Through Wednesday: Manageable marine conditions in the near term, but more importantly an opportunity to batten down hatches and prepare securings as a tropical depression or storm tracks across the area late Wednesday night into Thursday. SW winds go unchanged today and Wednesday, gusty in afternoons, but it is not until late Wednesday night that conditions quickly worsen as winds and waves increase. Until then isolated marine showers or a stray TSTM is possible, moreso on Wednesday. Long period swell to remain of low amplitude, SE waves around 3 ft every 9 seconds will be the dominant energy today and again Wednesday, with moderate afternoon S chop. Wednesday Through Saturday: Winds and seas will be deteriorating quickly overnight Wednesday as the remnants of Elsa move across on what appears to be an inland track. Still too early to know about headlines but winds and gusts will be somewhere north of 30 knots for a few hours with seas 8-10 feet. For Friday through the weekend, the inland Piedmont Trough will become established resulting in a southwest flow of 10- 15 knots perhaps a bit higher at times. Significant seas will be 2-4 feet. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...ILM UPDATE...21 NEAR TERM...MJC SHORT TERM...SHK LONG TERM...SHK AVIATION...08/43 MARINE...MJC/SHK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington NC 430 AM EDT Tue Jul 6 2021 NCZ087-096-099-105-107-109-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-055-058-059- 070830- Robeson-Bladen-Columbus-Inland Pender-Inland New Hanover- Inland Brunswick-Marlboro-Darlington-Dillon-Florence-Marion- Williamsburg-Inland Georgetown-Central Horry-Northern Horry- 430 AM EDT Tue Jul 6 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Tropical Storm gusts likely late Wednesday night through Thursday morning, with a potential for 2 to 4 inches of occasional heavy rainfall with isolated 6 inch amounts. Isolated tornadoes possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. AMZ250-252-254-256-070830- 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- 430 AM EDT Tue Jul 6 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the adjacent Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazards. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Tropical Storm conditions possible late Wednesday through Thursday. Small Craft Advisory possible Thursday night into early Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-070830- Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-Coastal Horry- Coastal Georgetown- 430 AM EDT Tue Jul 6 2021 ...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and northeast South 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 Risk of Rip Currents. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Tropical Storm gusts likely late Wednesday night through Thursday morning, with a potential for 2 to 4 inches of occasional heavy rainfall with isolated 6 inch amounts. Isolated tornadoes possible. Strong north to south longshore current east-facing beaches Wednesday and Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. 8
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue reported 34 rip current rescues due to strong rip currents.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2021
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: 973331.