Storm Warning cleared; Gale Warning now in effect for Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC offshore corridor
NWS Wilmington NC issued a Gale Warning at 2:26 AM EDT Sunday, October 18 for coastal zones from Surf City NC to South Santee River SC. As of 4:40 AM EST, NDBC buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals) recorded NNE winds of 35 knots gusting to 43 knots, up from 31 gusting 41 at 2:50 AM EST; NDBC station 41120 (Cape Hatteras East) reported seas of 17 feet, up from 14 feet at 2:56 AM EST. SC grand-strand zones expire 2:00 AM EDT Monday; NC zones expire 8:00 AM EDT Monday. Check weather.gov/ilm for current zone text before any coastal or offshore departure.
Update, 4:40 AM EST, Sunday, October 18, 2026: Conditions have strengthened since the early-morning issuance. NDBC buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals, NC) recorded NNE winds of 35 knots gusting to 43 knots as of 4:40 AM EST, up from 31 gusting 41 knots at 2:50 AM EST. NDBC station 41120 (Cape Hatteras East, NC) reported seas of 17 feet and water at 72 degrees Fahrenheit as of 4:26 AM EST, up from 14 feet at 2:56 AM EST. NDBC station 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) recorded NE winds of 27 knots gusting to 39 knots and water at 77 degrees Fahrenheit as of 4:08 AM EST. All four gale zones remain active. Pull the current NWS Wilmington NC zone product at weather.gov/ilm before any departure.
Update, 2:26 AM EDT, Sunday, October 18, 2026: NWS Wilmington NC issued a new Gale Warning for the coastal zones (0 to 20 NM) from Surf City NC to South Santee River SC. The warning covers four zones: coastal waters from Surf City to Cape Fear NC out 20 NM, coastal waters from Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet SC out 20 NM, coastal waters from Little River Inlet to Murrells Inlet SC out 20 NM, and coastal waters from Murrells Inlet to South Santee River SC out 20 NM. The Surf City to Cape Fear and Cape Fear to Little River Inlet zones expire at 8:00 AM EDT Monday, October 19; the Little River Inlet to South Santee River SC zones expire at 2:00 AM EDT Monday, October 19. This coastal-zone issuance is separate from the 20-to-60 NM offshore Gale Warning that replaced the October 17 Storm Warning. NDBC buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals, NC) recorded NNE winds of 31 knots gusting to 41 knots and water at 82 degrees Fahrenheit as of 2:50 AM EST Sunday. NDBC station 41120 (Cape Hatteras East, NC) reported seas of 14 feet and water at 72 degrees Fahrenheit as of 2:56 AM EST Sunday. NDBC station 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) recorded NE winds of 27 knots gusting to 39 knots and water at 77 degrees Fahrenheit as of 2:08 AM EST Sunday. Gale Warning criteria apply for sustained winds of 34 to 47 knots. Pull the current NWS Wilmington NC zone product stack at weather.gov/ilm before any coastal or offshore departure from this corridor.
Update, 2:45 PM EDT, Saturday, October 17, 2026: NWS Wilmington NC has cleared the Storm Warning for waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM. A Gale Warning is now in effect for this corridor. Gale Warning criteria apply for sustained winds of 34 to 47 knots; buoy observations confirm conditions are in that range. NDBC buoy 41025 (Diamond Shoals, NC) recorded north winds of 35 knots gusting to 43 knots and seas of 8 feet at water temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit as of 12:50 PM EST October 17. NDBC station 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) recorded NNE winds of 27 knots gusting to 37 knots and water at 78 degrees Fahrenheit as of 12:08 PM EST October 17; NDBC station 41159 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) reported seas of 6 feet as of 12:56 PM EST October 17. NWS guidance for Gale Warning conditions is that mariners should remain in port, alter course, or secure the vessel. Offshore departures from Cape Fear, Wrightsville Beach, Brunswick County inlets, and Little River Inlet remain inadvisable. Pull the current NWS Wilmington NC zone text at weather.gov/ilm before any departure decision.
NWS Wilmington NC issued a Storm Warning at 2:25 AM EDT Saturday, October 17, 2026 for waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore. The warning runs through 2:00 AM EDT Monday, October 19. The affected zone covers the primary offshore fishing corridor for vessels departing Cape Fear River inlets, Masonboro Inlet, Carolina Beach Inlet, Wrightsville Beach, and Brunswick County inlets (Shallotte Inlet, Lockwood Folly Inlet, Holden Beach), as well as offshore waters accessed from Little River Inlet at the NC/SC border.
NWS Wilmington NC forecast conditions for the warned zone included north winds of 30 to 40 knots with gusts reaching 50 knots and seas of 10 to 15 feet. The warning notice stated that storm force winds and hazardous seas will capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
NDBC buoy 41064 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) recorded westerly winds of 17 knots gusting to 27 knots and water at 78 degrees Fahrenheit as of 12:08 AM EST October 17. NDBC station 41159 (Onslow Bay Outer, NC) reported seas of 5 feet as of 11:56 PM EST October 16. NDBC station 41025 (Diamond Shoals, NC, to the north of the warned zone) recorded winds of 23 knots gusting to 29 knots as of 12:30 AM EST October 17. Conditions built through the morning.
October is mid-season for offshore king mackerel and wahoo along the Cape Fear coast and the Grand Strand. Water temperatures in the warned zone are running in the upper 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit (buoy data above), and offshore fish have been active through this corridor. That window is closed through Monday morning. The Storm Warning covers the 20 to 60 NM zone; inshore and nearshore zones may carry separate advisory products. Pull the full NWS Wilmington NC product stack at weather.gov/ilm for current zone text before any departure from this corridor.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.