Rip Current Warning Expired for North Carolina Coast After Brief Advisory
NWS Wilmington issued and lifted rip current and beach hazards warnings within 30 minutes Saturday evening as ocean conditions rapidly improved.
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA — The National Weather Service Wilmington office issued and quickly lifted a rip current statement for portions of the North Carolina coast on Saturday evening. The advisory lasted just 30 minutes before conditions improved.
The rip current statement was issued at 7:30 p.m. EDT on May 31 and expired at 8:00 p.m. EDT the same day, according to weather service officials. A concurrent beach hazards statement was also in effect during this brief timeframe.
Short-Duration Weather Event
The brief nature of both advisories suggests rapidly changing ocean conditions along the affected coastal areas. Rip current statements are typically issued when dangerous currents develop that can pull swimmers away from shore.
Beach hazards statements are issued when conditions present various dangers to beachgoers, including rough surf, strong currents, or other marine hazards that could threaten public safety.
Coastal Safety Reminders
Even with the advisories now expired, officials remind beachgoers to remain vigilant about ocean conditions. Rip currents can develop quickly and are responsible for numerous water rescues along the North Carolina coast each year.
The National Weather Service advises swimmers to always check current conditions before entering the water and to swim near lifeguarded beaches when possible. If caught in a rip current, officials recommend swimming parallel to shore until out of the current, then swimming back to land.
Saturday’s brief advisory affected coastal areas under the jurisdiction of the National Weather Service Wilmington office, which covers southeastern North Carolina’s coastal counties.
