North Carolina Surf Forecast May 20-24 2026: Sunny Conditions, Moderate Rip Currents, One to Four Foot Waves

Beach Hazard Alert Friday: Moderate to High Rip Currents Expected Along Carolina and South Carolina Coasts Today

Good morning beach lovers! Let's dive into what's happening in the water today, Friday, June 19th. If you're thinking about heading to the coast, here's what you need to know. We've got some serious rip current action happening along our beaches today, so this is definitely something to take seriously. Starting up north in Pender County, including Surf City and Topsail Beach, we're looking at moderate rip currents all day long. Surf heights are running two to four feet, which sounds fun, but combined with that strong south to north longshore current, swimmers and surfers need to be extra cautious. We're expecting mostly cloudy skies until five o'clock, then clearing up and becoming mostly sunny. Showers and a chance of thunderstorms are in the forecast, so keep an eye on the sky. Water temperature is hanging out in the upper seventies, and southwest winds will be pushing fifteen to twenty miles per hour. High temperature should reach the mid-eighties. As we head down to New Hanover County, covering Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach, the story is similar but slightly different. Moderate rip currents are in effect here too, though the surf is a bit smaller at one to two feet. Same weather pattern—mostly cloudy becoming mostly sunny with showers and thunderstorms possible. Southwest winds are a bit stronger here, around twenty miles per hour. Water's still in the upper seventies, highs in the mid-eighties. Now here's where things get interesting. If you're in Brunswick County or heading down to Horry County, we're under a high rip current risk today. That means life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone. I'm not trying to be a buzzkill, but this is serious stuff. Over in Brunswick County at places like Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach, we're seeing surf heights of three to six feet east of Ocean Isle, and two to five feet to the west. That's some real power in the water. Combine that with a moderate west to east longshore current, and you've got some genuinely dangerous conditions. Heat index values are climbing up to around one hundred degrees, so if you do venture out, bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Southwest winds around twenty miles per hour. Up in Horry County, we're looking at high rip currents north of Myrtle Beach and moderate rip currents south of Myrtle Beach. Surf is two to five feet in the north and two to four feet in the south, with that strong south to north longshore current doing its thing. Water temperature here is a pleasant eighty degrees, but again, respect those rip currents. Heat index values are pushing one hundred one degrees, so hydration is key. Over in Georgetown County, we're back to moderate rip current risk. Smaller surf at one to two feet, but the water is in the lower eighties and there's still that strong south to north longshore current working. Heat index values are climbing to one hundred two degrees. One thing consistent everywhere is the UV index—it's very high all across the board. Don't forget your sunscreen, even on days with clouds. Looking ahead to Saturday, things are calming down considerably. Rip currents drop to low risk across the board. Surf is flattening out to just one to three feet. Skies will be mostly sunny, winds will be much lighter, and there won't be any thunderstorm potential. Highs in the mid-eighties. It's shaping up to be a beautiful beach day Saturday. Sunday through Tuesday, we're looking at mostly sunny skies with low rip current risk and modest surf heights of one to three feet. Highs in the upper eighties, with just slight chances of showers and thunderstorms developing by Tuesday afternoon. Bottom line for today: if you're heading to the water, be beach hazard aware. We've got moderate to high rip current risks depending on where you are, moderate thunderstorm potential, and some serious heat. But if you respect the conditions, stay near lifeguards, and know how to handle a rip current, there's still plenty of fun to be had. And if you're not comfortable with today's conditions, Saturday is shaping up to be absolutely perfect. Stay safe out there! For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

North Carolina South Carolina Surf Zone Forecast June 17 2026 Moderate Rip Currents and Comfortable Water Temperatures

Good morning, this is your surf zone forecast for the North Carolina and South Carolina coast, issued Wednesday morning, June 17th, 2026. Let's start with today. We're looking at moderate rip current risk through this evening across most of the North Carolina beaches, with conditions varying slightly as you head south. Surf heights are relatively modest, ranging from one to three feet along the Pender and New Hanover coastlines, bumping up slightly to two to four feet around Brunswick County beaches. Down in Horry County, we're seeing one to three feet, and conditions are calmest over in Georgetown with one to two feet. Water temperatures are comfortable, ranging from the upper 70s up in Pender County to the lower 80s down south. The weather pattern today features mostly cloudy skies clearing to sunshine as we head toward afternoon, with showers likely and just a slight chance of thunderstorms. Southwest winds staying light around 10 miles per hour. UV index is running high to moderate depending on your location. High temperatures should reach the mid 80s. The water is perfect for a dip, folks. Just be mindful of those moderate longshore currents running south to north, or west to east down in Brunswick County. Now, Thursday is shaping up to be a beautiful day. We'll see sunny skies across the board with no thunderstorm potential. However, we're upgrading rip current risk to moderate across most locations as surf heights increase to two to four feet, or even up to five feet over in New Hanover and Brunswick. Southwest winds will pick up to 15 to 20 miles per hour. Here's the kicker though: heat index values are going to climb up to 105 degrees, so stay hydrated out there. Those strong longshore currents will be humming along as well, so swimmers and surfers need to remain cautious. Friday, which is Juneteenth, brings a noticeable shift. High rip current risk develops over in Brunswick County and the Horry County area, while moderate risk spreads across the northern beaches. Surf heights will be more substantial, reaching three to five feet in some spots. We'll see mostly cloudy skies with showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Southwest winds around 15 to 20 miles per hour. Highs in the mid 80s, but it'll feel warmer with that humidity. The weekend looks like a return to more manageable conditions. Saturday features mostly sunny skies with rip current risk dropping to low across most areas, though Brunswick County hangs onto moderate risk. Surf heights will settle down to one to three feet. Northwest winds around 5 to 10 miles per hour, and highs in the mid 80s. Sunday wraps up the week with sunny skies, low rip current risk, and calmer one to three foot surf. Light southwest winds and mid 80s highs. Remember, even with low rip current risk, life threatening rip currents can still occur near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, don't panic. Swim parallel to shore until you're out of the current, then swim back to land. Stay safe out there and enjoy the water. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Carolina Coast Surf Forecast Tuesday Through Saturday Mellow Conditions Building to Moderate Swell Friday

Good morning, welcome to your Tuesday surf zone forecast for the Carolina coast. Let me break down what we're looking at today and beyond. Starting with today, conditions are pretty mellow across the board. We're seeing surf heights hovering around one to two feet, with low rip current risk pretty much everywhere. Water temperatures are pleasant, sitting in the upper seventies up through the lower eighties depending on where you are. The sky will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and maybe a stray thunderstorm or two, but nothing that should keep you out of the water if you're feeling it. Temperatures today will be in the lower eighties, with light winds starting from the northeast and shifting to the south this afternoon. It's a nice, mellow setup overall. Moving into Wednesday, things are going to pick up slightly. We'll see surf heights increasing to one to three feet across most areas, with the Brunswick County beaches seeing the potential for a moderate rip current risk, especially east of Ocean Isle Beach. There's a moderate thunderstorm potential across most of the northern beaches, but the weather pattern clears up nicely with partly sunny skies giving way to sunny breaks. Expect a high in the mid eighties with southwest winds picking up to around ten to fifteen miles per hour. There is a notable moderate longshore current developing, so swimmers should be aware of that drift. Thursday looks like the sweet spot of the forecast period. We're talking mostly sunny skies, highs in the upper eighties, and surf building to two to four feet in most locations. Rip current risk stays low to moderate depending on your location, and it'll be a genuinely nice beach day with southwest winds around fifteen miles per hour. Now, Juneteenth on Friday is where things get interesting. This is when we see the most significant swell of the week arriving. Surf heights will climb to two to four feet, with some areas possibly seeing up to four feet. Here's where you need to pay attention to the rip current risk, as it increases to moderate across most beaches and actually reaches high risk status down in Brunswick County. This means life-threatening rip currents will likely be present in the surf zone. We'll have partly sunny skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms, and winds from the southwest around fifteen to twenty miles per hour. Saturday wraps up the extended period on a gentler note. Surf heights drop back down to one to three feet, rip current risk decreases to low or moderate levels, and we'll see mostly sunny skies with just a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Northwest winds around five to ten miles per hour will give us pleasant beach conditions to close out the weekend. Keep in mind that while rip current risk may be low in some areas, life-threatening rip currents can form near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers regardless of the forecast risk level. Always respect the ocean and swim near lifeguards when possible. Enjoy your time at the beach. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Carolina Coast Surf Forecast Monday Through Friday Small Waves Moderate Rip Currents Beach Safety

Good morning, this is your Monday morning surf zone forecast for the Carolina coast, brought to you by the National Weather Service. Let's start with today's conditions. If you're thinking about heading to the beach, you're looking at mostly sunny skies with just a slight chance of showers. Water temperatures are holding in the upper seventies to low eighties depending on where you are, and that Very High UV Index means sunscreen is absolutely essential out there. Surf heights are running small across the region, generally one to three feet. The Pender County beaches around Surf City and Topsail are expecting one to three feet, while down in New Hanover County, you're looking at around two feet. Over in Brunswick County, particularly around Bald Head Island and Oak Island, we're tracking one to three feet as well. And down the South Carolina coast, similar story with one to two foot surf in Georgetown and around Myrtle Beach. Now, here's the important part for water safety. We do have a Moderate Rip Current Risk in effect this morning for Brunswick County and the northern Myrtle Beach area. Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone, so stay alert if you're heading out. The rest of the forecast area is seeing a Low Rip Current Risk, though remember that life-threatening rip currents can always form near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers regardless of the forecast risk level. Wind-wise, expect west to southwest winds around ten miles per hour. There's no thunderstorm threat today and waterspout risk is low across the board. Thunderstorm potential is essentially none. Moving into Tuesday, conditions mellow out considerably. Rip current risk drops to Low along most of the coast, though the Horry County area does mention a Moderate Waterspout Risk developing. Surf will ease down to around two feet for most locations. We're expecting mostly cloudy skies with just a slight chance of showers. Winds will be light, starting out from the north around five miles per hour before shifting south in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid to lower eighties. Looking ahead to Wednesday, we'll see partly sunny skies with a chance of showers and some slight thunderstorm potential developing. Surf stays in that one to three foot range, and a Low Rip Current Risk continues. Southwest winds around ten to fifteen miles per hour. Highs in the lower to mid eighties. Thursday's looking like a great beach day. We're forecasting mostly to mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid to upper eighties. Surf will build slightly to two to four feet with Low to Moderate Rip Current Risk depending on your location. Southwest winds increase to around fifteen to twenty miles per hour. Finally, Juneteenth is looking active. We're expecting partly sunny skies with showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms developing. This means a Moderate Rip Current Risk is possible. Surf will be running two to four feet, and southwest winds around fifteen to twenty miles per hour will keep things energetic. Highs will be in the mid to upper eighties. Water temperatures across the region are pleasant, ranging from the upper seventies in Pender County up to around eighty degrees down south. Bottom line, it's going to be a pretty nice stretch. Today is your day if you want small, manageable waves. Tuesday and Wednesday offer steady conditions, Thursday shapes up beautifully, and Juneteenth will bring more energy to the water along with increased storm chances. Stay safe out there, check tide times for your specific location, and remember to respect the ocean. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Carolina Coast Surf Forecast: Heat Advisory, Moderate Rip Currents, 1 to 4 Foot Waves Sunday

Good morning! Here's your Sunday surf zone forecast for the Carolina coast. Mother Nature's turning up the heat today, so let's dive right into what's happening in the water and what you need to know before heading to the beach. Starting down south in Georgetown, we're looking at small waves one to three feet with mostly sunny skies and a chance of scattered showers. The water's a pleasant eighty-one degrees, so conditions are pretty mellow down there. Rip current risk is low, but that strong south to north longshore current will be pushing water up the coast all day. Heading north to Myrtle Beach and the Horry County beaches, things get more interesting. Here we've got moderate rip current risk in effect all day, so take that seriously. Waves are bumping up to two to four feet north of Myrtle Beach, with one to three feet south of town. Still mostly sunny, but there's a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Water temperatures are around eighty degrees. Over in Brunswick County around Oak Island and Ocean Isle, we're seeing two to four foot waves with moderate rip current risk throughout the day. That's important to note, folks. The water's around eighty degrees and conditions are mostly sunny, though you might catch a brief shower. Expect a moderate to strong west to east longshore current working through there. The northern beaches in New Hanover County around Wrightsville and Carolina Beach show one to three foot waves with low rip current risk. Similar story up in Pender County near Topsail and Surf City, where you're looking at two to three footers. Now here's the big story of the day: heat. We've got a heat advisory in effect from eleven in the morning through eight tonight. Expect highs in the upper eighties with heat indices climbing to one hundred five degrees across most of the region. That extreme UV index is no joke either, so sunscreen isn't optional. Winds are coming from the south to southwest, increasing throughout the day to around fifteen miles per hour with gusts to twenty. A beach hazards statement is also in effect today, so make sure you're taking precautions if you're heading out. This primarily relates to the heat and those rip currents, particularly down in Brunswick and Horry counties. Looking ahead to Monday, expect mostly sunny skies to continue with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rip current risk stays moderate in Brunswick and Horry counties but drops to low everywhere else. Waves will range from one to four feet depending on your location. Heat advisories ease up slightly with highs in the upper eighties and heat indices to around one hundred two degrees. By Tuesday we're looking at mostly cloudy skies with showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Waves settle down to one to three feet, and temperatures drop to the lower eighties. Wednesday brings partly sunny conditions with a slight chance of showers, while Thursday clears up nicely with sunny skies and temperatures back in the upper eighties. Stay hydrated, stay aware of those rip currents, and enjoy what's shaping up to be a pretty active week at the beach! For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta