Strong Thunderstorm, Rip Current Warnings Hit NC-SC Border Region
Wind gusts up to 40 mph and a fast-moving thunderstorm targeted communities from Lumberton to Dillon along the I-95 corridor — see which towns were in the storm’s path.
LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA — A strong thunderstorm moved through communities along the North Carolina and South Carolina border on the evening of June 18, 2026. Beach hazard and rip current warnings were issued for coastal areas the following day, according to alerts from the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Thunderstorm Threatens I-95 Corridor
At 7:23 p.m. EDT on June 18, NWS Wilmington issued a Special Weather Statement after Doppler radar detected a strong thunderstorm tracking over South of the Border, near Dillon, South Carolina, and moving northeast at 35 mph. The primary hazard was wind gusts up to 40 mph, with forecasters warning that gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
The storm affected a wide stretch of communities across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. Locations in the storm’s path included Lumberton, Dillon, Red Springs, Pembroke, Fairmont, Maxton, St. Pauls, Bladenboro, Rowland, Rex, Hamer, South of the Border, Butters, Hestertown, Shannon, Buie, Robeson Community College, Wakulla, Elrod, and Smiths.
Motorists on Interstate 95 were advised to use caution. The storm corridor covered Interstate 95 in South Carolina between mile markers 194 and 198, and Interstate 95 in North Carolina between mile markers 1 and 32, according to the NWS statement.
Coastal Hazards Issued for June 19
The following evening, on June 19, NWS Wilmington issued both a Rip Current Statement and a Beach Hazards Statement at 7:42 p.m. EDT, with both alerts set to expire at 8:00 p.m. EDT the same day. The alerts covered coastal areas under the agency’s jurisdiction in the Wilmington forecast zone.
Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can carry swimmers away from shore rapidly. Beach officials and the National Weather Service urge beachgoers to swim only near lifeguard stations and to never swim alone during periods when such statements are active.
Safety Reminders for Residents and Travelers
Residents in the affected inland communities were advised to secure loose outdoor items and stay indoors during the passing storm on June 18. NWS Wilmington, which covers much of southeastern North Carolina and portions of northeastern South Carolina, issued all three alerts within a roughly 24-hour window, signaling an active weather pattern across the region.
Travelers along the I-95 corridor, one of the busiest highways on the East Coast, were urged to remain alert for debris and reduced visibility during storm conditions. Conditions along the highway were expected to improve as the storm moved northeast.
Residents can monitor updated forecasts and active alerts through the National Weather Service at weather.gov or by following NWS Wilmington’s official communications channels.
