Special Marine Warning Issued for NC Sounds and Coastal Waters

Source: NOAA · North Carolina Coastal Waters

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NWS has issued a Special Marine Warning for Pamlico Sound, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds, and adjacent coastal waters until 4:15 AM EDT due to a severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
North Carolina Coastal Waters
Issued
August 4, 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

Special Marine Warning issued by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC. Effective from August 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM EDT until August 4, 2026 at 4:15 AM EDT.

Affected Areas

Pamlico Sound; Croatan and Roanoke Sounds; S of Currituck Beach Light NC to Oregon Inlet NC out to 20 NM; S of Oregon Inlet NC to Cape Hatteras NC out to 20 NM. Locations impacted include Ar145, Ar160, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon Inlet, and Rodanthe.

What You Should Do

Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes. Seek safe harbor immediately.

Expected Conditions

Severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater. Storm located near Rodanthe moving northeast at 10 knots.

Timeline

Alert in effect from 3:14 AM EDT until 4:15 AM EDT on August 4, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS has issued a Special Marine Warning for Pamlico Sound, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds, and adjacent coastal waters until 4:15 AM EDT due to a severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts.
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 North Carolina Coastal Waters. 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.