Special Marine Warning for Waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC

Source: NOAA · Waters off North Carolina and South Carolina

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NWS Wilmington NC has issued a Special Marine Warning for waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM until 2:30 AM EDT due to a strong thunderstorm with wind gusts 34 knots or greater.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Waters off North Carolina and South Carolina
Issued
August 22, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Wilmington NC

Marine notices apply to named waters or shoreline zones. They may not describe conditions on land, even when the nearest place name is the same.

Record status: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.

Alert Details

A Special Marine Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Wilmington NC. The alert is effective from 1:48 AM EDT on August 22, 2026, until 2:30 AM EDT on August 22, 2026.

Affected Areas

Waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM.

What You Should Do

Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately until these storms pass. If caught on the open water, prepare for deteriorating conditions. Make sure you and your crew are wearing properly fitted life jackets.

Expected Conditions

At 1:48 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 17 nm east of Wreck 33, moving north at 15 knots. Hazard includes wind gusts 34 knots or greater. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. The strong thunderstorm will remain over mainly open waters.

Timeline

The warning is in effect from 1:48 AM EDT until 2:30 AM EDT on August 22, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Wilmington NC has issued a Special Marine Warning for waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM until 2:30 AM EDT due to a strong thunderstorm with wind gusts 34 knots or greater.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Waters off North Carolina and South Carolina. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.