Special Marine Warning Issued for NC Coastal Waters
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NWS Newport/Morehead City has issued a Special Marine Warning for waters off the North Carolina coast until 4:45 AM EDT.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- North Carolina Coast
- Issued
- August 19, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Newport/Morehead City 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 Newport/Morehead City NC. The alert is effective from August 19, 2026 at 2:38 AM EDT until August 19, 2026 at 4:45 AM EDT.
Affected Areas
The warning covers:
- S of Oregon Inlet NC to Cape Hatteras NC out to 20 NM
- Waters from Currituck Beach Light to Oregon Inlet NC from 20 to 60 NM
- Waters from Oregon Inlet to Cape Hatteras NC from 20 to 60 NM
What You Should Do
Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately until this storm passes.
Expected Conditions
At 2:38 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 17 nm east of Rodanthe, moving east at 15 knots. Hazard includes wind gusts to 40 knots. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. Wind gusts to 40 knots, high waves, dangerous lightning, and heavy rain are possible.
Timeline
The alert is in effect from August 19, 2026 at 2:38 AM EDT and expires at 4:45 AM EDT the same day.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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