Damaging Winds in North Carolina, May 28, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
605 AM EDT Thu May 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1)Limited excessive rainfall potential today despite the deep
tropical moisture.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Limited excessive rainfall potential today
despite the deep tropical moisture.

KEY MESSAGE 1 DESCRIPTION...
Deep moisture continues to linger in the region for much of today,
despite precipitable water dropping a bit from near record levels
earlier in the week. Forcing today is weak with limited low-level
convergence and pockets of surface-based instability under flow
aloft that is barely divergent. The lackluster environment will keep
storm coverage limited. Expect to see a few weak storms fire on the
sea breeze during early afternoon, but better coverage will hold off
until the front starts pushing south.

Front will be crossing the area during peak heating and will have a
pinned sea breeze to interact with. The front has the potential to
kick off widespread showers and thunderstorms given the environment
it is moving into. More robust convection will fire along the
boundary and may end up starting where the sea breeze and the front
first meet before expanding west. Heavy rain will be possible in any
convection that develops along the front with potential for rainfall
amounts of 1-3" under the strongest cells. However, storm motions
and limited widespread heavy rainfall the last few days will help
keep flooding potential very low. Front slowly pushes south of the
forecast area late evening, ending any heavy rain threat.

&&

.AVIATION /09Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Mix of VFR/MVFR/IFR across the area this morning. Strong
boundary layer winds coupled with high boundary layer moisture
have resulted in low stratus instead of fog. Low ceilings will
mix out after a little bit of post sunrise heating. Anticipate
VFR at all sites 12Z-13Z.

Widespread VFR is likely to come to an end for most terminals mid to
late afternoon through early evening as a cold front moves in from
the north. Front is moving into a juicy air mass with plenty of
surface based instability. Sea breeze will be present, albeit pinned
to the coast and this could be where the first storms of the day get
going. As the front moves south convective coverage will expand, but
hard to say exactly when a shower or storm will reach a given
terminal, hence the use of PROB30 groups.

Front pushes south of the area 00Z-04Z leaving north to northeast
winds and VFR conditions at all sites.

Extended Forecast...A cold front will increase potential for
MVFR/IFR Saturday. Potential for MVFR/IFR at times from scattered
afternoon and evening storms during much of next week.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Tonight...
Enhanced southwest flow this morning will become westerly this
afternoon as a front starts moving in from the north. The pinched
gradient will initially keep speeds in the 15-20 kt range, but later
today the gradient becomes less defined and speeds decrease.
Westerly flow veers to north and then northeast once the front
passes. Weak northerly surge follows with the development of
northeast winds, but surge strength and duration are limited and
conditions will remain below advisory thresholds. Seas 3-5 ft drop
to 3-4 ft with the reduction in wind speeds later today. Following
the passage of the front, 4 ft seas will become more widespread.

Friday night through Monday... Post-frontal winds will be onshore
Friday night through the weekend as high pressure builds in
from the north. Six foot waves will remain comfortably outside
of the 20nm zones though winds may take a brief run at SCA wind
gusts Saturday night. It is not until Monday that the center of
the high moves off the coast enough for a more typical southerly
component to return. The post-frontal winds will disrupt the SE
flow that had been in place prior to the period keeping seas in
the shorter period spectrum. Another front and high building
from the north could bring a return of light onshore winds and
keep wave periods in the wind wave realm towards the end of the
period.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...MBB
KEY MESSAGES...III/MBB
DISCUSSION...III/MBB
AVIATION...III
MARINE...III/MBB

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
240 PM EDT Thu May 28 2026

NCZ105>109-281930-
Inland New Hanover NC-Inland Brunswick NC-Coastal Pender NC-
Inland Pender NC-Coastal New Hanover NC-
240 PM EDT Thu May 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NEW HANOVER...SOUTHWESTERN
PENDER AND NORTHEASTERN BRUNSWICK COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...

At 240 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Phoenix, or 7 miles north of Leland, moving southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Wilmington, Leland, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, South
Masonboro Island, Snows Cut, North Masonboro Island, Figure Eight
Island, Hightsville, Long Creek, Cape Fear Community College North
Campus, Wilmington International Airport, Myrtle Grove, Masonboro,
Murrayville, Castle Hayne, University Of North Carolina At
Wilmington, Phoenix, Scotts Hill, and Ogden.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 40 between mile markers 412 and 416.
 Interstate 140 between mile markers 15 and 20.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3427 7775 3417 7783 3404 7789 3409 7794
      3410 7794 3436 7817 3448 7805 3431 7770
TIME...MOT...LOC 1840Z 312DEG 27KT 3434 7807

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

ABW