Moderate rip current activity and a weekend crowd led to several rescues at Carolina Beach.
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The episode as NWS ILM wrote it up.
Moderate rip current activity and a weekend crowd led to several rescues at Carolina 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 Jul 31, 5:58 AM EST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 658 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A weak cold front continues its slow trek southward today with a couple weak waves of low pressure keeping it near northeast South Carolina. Cooler and drier high pressure will build in Tuesday through Wednesday. A cold front approaching from the northwest later in the week will likely bring a return to unsettled weather. && .UPDATE... Morning POPs have been adjusted lower across both land and marine ILM CWA areas. Will continue to see convection ramp back up by midday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Sfc cold front having dropped to the forecast area of Southeast NC and Northeast SC early this morning...will continue to slowly sink further southward as the longwave upper trof expands/amplifies across the East Coast. Successive mid-level s/w trofs rotating thru this l/w upper trof will help drive the cold front further south and away from the FA this period. The longwave trof axis will line up along or just east of the the U.S. East Coast by the end of this period. This will result in flow becoming more Northwesterly overhead and allowing sfc high pressure from the north to begin ridging to the FA by the end of this period. Look for best POPs this morning thru midday with an overall diminishing trend of pcpn potential this aftn and evening. Temps today will be limited somewhat by clouds and pcpn but should see widespread 85-90 degrees which is at or just below normal. Tonights lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s which is just about normal. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Tuesday will feature another sea breeze with mid-level energy embedded in the NW flow aloft triggering isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms. Severe weather is not anticipated, and the convection is expected to wind down through the evening hours as drier air moves in from the NW. Temps near normal for early August under partly cloudy skies...highs in the upr 80s to around 90, with lows Tuesday night in the mid/upr 60s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Long term period starts off Wednesday with a dry day over the entire CWA for a change. This due to sfc high pressure ridging in from the NE and a fairly dry column. Trend then for the remainder of the week will be towards higher rain chances as the high pushes further offshore and low-level flow veers to the SE/S, coinciding with a noticeable increase in moisture profiles. PoPs will remain in the chance range as timing the shortwaves aloft is difficult this far out in time, but an increase to likely PoPs for some period(s) is possible as the week progresses. Temps max out in the mid/upr 80s Wednesday through Friday, then up to the low 90s over the weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Inland terminals for the most part will be subject to MVFR/IFR early this morning, either from low stratus or fog. May see a dry spell across all terminals for a few hrs this morning, however with the cold front still in the area, slowly sinking south, and continued s/w energy aloft moving overhead, have indicated possible convection for midday thru this aftn across all terminals with either VCTS or a Prob30 group (9 hr rule) identifying this potential. Activity should suppress east and south of NE SC and SE NC by this evening and have indicated dry conditions and raised ceilings. Towards daybreak Tue, could see MVFR/IFR conditions emerge due to fog and/or low stratus. Winds generally NE- SE dependent how close to the cold front the terminal resides. Otherwise, look for all terminals to generally become NE-ENE tonight as sfc high begins it's descent southward. Extended Outlook... Generally VFR to dominate the extended. Exception is for periodic MVFR possible in fog early Tue morning. Dry and modest high pressure to dominate through the mid to late work-week period with only isolated convection at best. && .MARINE... Through Tonight... With the sfc cold front more or less overhead this morning, look for an array of wind directions across the area waters at the start of today. Speeds generally 10 kt or less given the weak gradient on either side of the front. In addition, the weak waves of low pressure moving along the front will also play havoc with wind directions this morning. By this afternoon and especially tonight, winds across all waters will become ENE-E continuing around 10 kt. Convection coverage will peak this morning into this aftn with activity staying closer to the front as it sinks further south and away from the area waters. Sig. seas generally 2 to 3 ft with 4 footers possible north of Cape Fear as Easterly wind driven waves further aid. Tuesday through Friday... Fairly benign marine conditions expected Tuesday through Friday as sfc high pressure positioned off to the NE midweek shifts farther offshore towards the end of the week. As such, NE/E winds Tuesday and Wednesday will gradually veer to the SE by Thursday, with speeds steady at 10-15 kt. Seas 2-4 ft, which includes a weak 9-11 sec ESE swell component that may increase in height late in the week. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Minor coastal flooding possible along the Lower Cape Fear River(LCFR) during successive evening high tides thru atleast the mid-week period. Especially since it broke the 5.5 ft MLLW threshold during Sun evening's high tide. This also holds true for the immediate coast of both Southeast NC and Northeast SC with latest predictions indicating just above minor flood thresholds possible. At this point, bought on the LCFR reaching minor coastal flood thresholds for the next several days. However, am hesitant with the immediate coast surpassing minor coastal flood thresholds this evening given latest predictions only just reaching their respective thresholds. ie. Johnny Mercer Pier predicted at 6.0 ft MLLW, which is the minor coastal flood threshold. ie. Springmaid Pier predicted at 7.0 ft MLLW which is its threshold. && .ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. NC...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...DCH UPDATE... NEAR TERM...DCH SHORT TERM...MAS LONG TERM...MAS AVIATION...DCH MARINE...DCH/MAS TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wilmington NC 414 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 NCZ106-108-110-SCZ054-056-010815- Coastal Pender-Coastal New Hanover-Coastal Brunswick-Coastal Horry- Coastal Georgetown- 414 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall from slow moving or training of showers and thunderstorms could produce localized flooding and ponding of water across low lying and poorly drained areas. Minor coastal flooding is possible during this early evening high tide. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Minor coastal flooding is possible during the evening high tides through at least mid week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ107-010815- Inland New Hanover- 414 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall from slow moving or training of showers and thunderstorms could produce localized flooding and ponding of water across low lying and poorly drained areas. Minor coastal flooding may occur along the banks of the Lower Cape Fear River from Wilmington southward during this evening's high tide cycle. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Minor coastal flooding may occur along the banks of the Lower Cape Fear River from Wilmington southward during each evening's high tide through mid week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ087-096-099-105-109-SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-055-058-059-010815- Robeson-Bladen-Columbus-Inland Pender-Inland Brunswick-Marlboro- Darlington-Dillon-Florence-Marion-Williamsburg-Inland Georgetown- Central Horry-Northern Horry- 414 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Locally heavy rainfall from slow moving or training of showers and thunderstorms could produce localized flooding and ponding of water across low lying and poorly drained areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. AMZ250-252-254-256-010815- 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- 414 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the adjacent Coastal Waters. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. dch
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
430 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 AM Flash Flood 1 NNW Whiteville 34.34N 78.71W
07/31/2023 Columbus NC 911 Call Center
High water closed the intersection of Washington St and
JK Powell Blvd
&&
Event Number ILM2300113
MASPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
434 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 AM Flash Flood 6 SSE Whiteville 34.24N 78.68W
07/31/2023 Columbus NC 911 Call Center
High water closed the intersection of Rt 130 and Gores
Trailer Rd
&&
Event Number ILM2300114
MASPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
435 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 AM Rain Columbus Cty Arpt 34.27N 78.71W
07/31/2023 M5.97 inch Columbus NC AWOS
Rainfall measured from 10pm Sun Jul 30 thru 4am Mon Jul
31.
&&
Event Number ILM2300115
dchPreliminary Local Storm Report...Corrected
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
512 AM EDT Mon Jul 31 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 AM Rain Columbus Cty Arpt 34.27N 78.71W
07/31/2023 M3.45 inch Columbus NC AWOS
Rainfall measured from 10pm Sun Jul 30 thru 4am Mon Jul
31.
&&
Corrected event
Event Number ILM2300115
dchThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue reported 17 rip current rescues.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, July 2023
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: 1106097.