Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Carolina Beach, NC
 | Sunrise 6:34 AM Sunset 7:47 PM Moonrise 7:38 AM Moonset 11:03 PM |
Marine Forecasts
NOTE: Zones updated 4/16/2026. Some zones changed. Use Edit if needed.
AMZ250 Coastal Waters From Surf City To Cape Fear Nc Out 20 Nm- 628 Am Edt Mon Apr 20 2026
Today - NE winds 10 to 15 kt, diminishing to 5 to 10 kt late this morning, then becoming se early this afternoon, becoming sw late. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave detail: ne 2 ft at 5 seconds and E 2 ft at 11 seconds.
Tonight - W winds 10 kt, becoming N with gusts up to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: ne 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 3 seconds.
Tue - NE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt, becoming E 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave detail: ne 3 ft at 5 seconds and E 1 ft at 8 seconds.
Tue night - S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: E 2 ft at 7 seconds and S 1 ft at 2 seconds.
Wed - SW winds 10 to 15 kt, increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave detail: sw 3 ft at 4 seconds and E 2 ft at 7 seconds.
Wed night - SW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave detail: sw 4 ft at 4 seconds and E 1 ft at 8 seconds.
Thu - SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Thu night - SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Fri - SW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Fri night - SW winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft.
AMZ200 628 Am Edt Mon Apr 20 2026
Synopsis for coastal waters from surf city north carolina to south santee river south carolina out to 20 nautical miles - A dry cold front late today will be followed by high pressure. The high will slide overhead then offshore from the southeast u.s. Coast by mid-week. Benign marine conditions forecasted for the upcoming week.
7 Day Forecast for Marine Location Near Carolina Beach, NC
NEW! Add second zone forecast
| Wilmington Beach Click for Map Mon -- 04:32 AM EDT -0.41 feet Low Tide Mon -- 06:34 AM EDT Sunrise Mon -- 08:38 AM EDT Moonrise Mon -- 10:28 AM EDT 3.90 feet High Tide Mon -- 04:14 PM EDT -0.51 feet Low Tide Mon -- 07:46 PM EDT Sunset Mon -- 11:00 PM EDT 5.79 feet High Tide Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION |
Wilmington Beach, North Carolina, Tide feet
| 12 am |
| 4.7 |
| 1 am |
| 3.3 |
| 2 am |
| 1.7 |
| 3 am |
| 0.4 |
| 4 am |
| -0.3 |
| 5 am |
| -0.3 |
| 6 am |
| 0.2 |
| 7 am |
| 1.2 |
| 8 am |
| 2.3 |
| 9 am |
| 3.3 |
| 10 am |
| 3.8 |
| 11 am |
| 3.8 |
| 12 pm |
| 3.2 |
| 1 pm |
| 2.2 |
| 2 pm |
| 1 |
| 3 pm |
| -0 |
| 4 pm |
| -0.5 |
| 5 pm |
| -0.3 |
| 6 pm |
| 0.4 |
| 7 pm |
| 1.7 |
| 8 pm |
| 3.1 |
| 9 pm |
| 4.5 |
| 10 pm |
| 5.5 |
| 11 pm |
| 5.8 |
| Orton Point Click for Map Flood direction 358 true Ebb direction 189 true Mon -- 03:46 AM EDT -2.24 knots Max Ebb Mon -- 06:34 AM EDT Sunrise Mon -- 06:52 AM EDT 0.00 knots Slack Mon -- 08:38 AM EDT Moonrise Mon -- 09:03 AM EDT 1.34 knots Max Flood Mon -- 12:18 PM EDT -0.00 knots Slack Mon -- 03:51 PM EDT -2.36 knots Max Ebb Mon -- 06:42 PM EDT 0.00 knots Slack Mon -- 07:47 PM EDT Sunset Mon -- 09:08 PM EDT 2.00 knots Max Flood Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION |
Orton Point, 0.5 nmi S of (depth 8 ft), Cape Fear River, North Carolina Current, knots
| 12 am |
| -0 |
| 1 am |
| -0.9 |
| 2 am |
| -1.6 |
| 3 am |
| -2.1 |
| 4 am |
| -2.2 |
| 5 am |
| -1.8 |
| 6 am |
| -0.9 |
| 7 am |
| 0.1 |
| 8 am |
| 1 |
| 9 am |
| 1.3 |
| 10 am |
| 1.2 |
| 11 am |
| 0.8 |
| 12 pm |
| 0.2 |
| 1 pm |
| -0.7 |
| 2 pm |
| -1.6 |
| 3 pm |
| -2.2 |
| 4 pm |
| -2.4 |
| 5 pm |
| -1.9 |
| 6 pm |
| -0.9 |
| 7 pm |
| 0.4 |
| 8 pm |
| 1.5 |
| 9 pm |
| 2 |
| 10 pm |
| 1.8 |
| 11 pm |
| 1.3 |
FXUS62 KILM 201056 AFDILM
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 656 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Aviation discussion updated for the 06Z TAFs.
KEY MESSAGES
1) Elevated fire weather in place for most of the upcoming week due to very dry conditions and ongoing drought.
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGE 1...Elevated fire weather in place for most of the upcoming week due to very dry conditions and ongoing drought.
Dry fuels due to ongoing severe drought along with a dry air mass in place for the upcoming week will contribute to a prolonged period of elevated fire weather conditions. Afternoon minimum RH values are forecasted below 30%, away from the immediate coast, each day this week. Wind speeds will vary throughout the week. Today and Wednesday are forecasted to be the windiest days, with gusts around 15-20 mph this afternoon and potentially 20-25 mph gusts during the day Wednesday. Fire Danger Statement is in effect for virtually all of North Carolina today, and burn bans remain in effect for both North and South Carolina until further notice.
AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/
Prevailing VFR. Light winds for a few more hours will turn northwesterly during the day around 5-10 kts as a dry cold front moves through the area, with infrequent gusts of 15-20 kts.
Winds become light northeasterlies tonight as a second high pressure ridges down from the north.
Extended Forecast...VFR conditions should prevail through Friday.
MARINE
Through Tonight...Weakening northeast winds this morning will briefly turn southwesterly later today before a dry cold front moves offshore. Winds veer to north-northeasterly tonight behind the front, slowly increasing to 15 kts with gusts to 20 kts by dawn Tuesday. Seas will be improving throughout the day as the NNE wind wave weakens. In the coastal waters (out to 20nm) seas linger around 2-3 ft today into tonight. For the waters from 20nm to 60nm, seas 4- 6 ft this morning lower to 3-4 ft by this evening, primarily as a ENE swell.
Tuesday through Friday Night...High pressure will be shifting offshore allowing southerly winds to return Tue night. Should see winds pick up Wed/Wed night due to a tightening pressure gradient from an approaching cold front but should mainly stay below 25 kt, especially given the cooler water. With significant waves staying about 4 ft or less as well we don't anticipate any appreciable threat for wind/sea headlines even in the offshore 20-60 NM zones.
After winds subside a bit Thu into early Fri they should pick back up later Fri/Fri night as another cold front begins to approach but once again stay below SCA criteria.
ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 656 AM EDT Mon Apr 20 2026
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Aviation discussion updated for the 06Z TAFs.
KEY MESSAGES
1) Elevated fire weather in place for most of the upcoming week due to very dry conditions and ongoing drought.
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGE 1...Elevated fire weather in place for most of the upcoming week due to very dry conditions and ongoing drought.
Dry fuels due to ongoing severe drought along with a dry air mass in place for the upcoming week will contribute to a prolonged period of elevated fire weather conditions. Afternoon minimum RH values are forecasted below 30%, away from the immediate coast, each day this week. Wind speeds will vary throughout the week. Today and Wednesday are forecasted to be the windiest days, with gusts around 15-20 mph this afternoon and potentially 20-25 mph gusts during the day Wednesday. Fire Danger Statement is in effect for virtually all of North Carolina today, and burn bans remain in effect for both North and South Carolina until further notice.
AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/
Prevailing VFR. Light winds for a few more hours will turn northwesterly during the day around 5-10 kts as a dry cold front moves through the area, with infrequent gusts of 15-20 kts.
Winds become light northeasterlies tonight as a second high pressure ridges down from the north.
Extended Forecast...VFR conditions should prevail through Friday.
MARINE
Through Tonight...Weakening northeast winds this morning will briefly turn southwesterly later today before a dry cold front moves offshore. Winds veer to north-northeasterly tonight behind the front, slowly increasing to 15 kts with gusts to 20 kts by dawn Tuesday. Seas will be improving throughout the day as the NNE wind wave weakens. In the coastal waters (out to 20nm) seas linger around 2-3 ft today into tonight. For the waters from 20nm to 60nm, seas 4- 6 ft this morning lower to 3-4 ft by this evening, primarily as a ENE swell.
Tuesday through Friday Night...High pressure will be shifting offshore allowing southerly winds to return Tue night. Should see winds pick up Wed/Wed night due to a tightening pressure gradient from an approaching cold front but should mainly stay below 25 kt, especially given the cooler water. With significant waves staying about 4 ft or less as well we don't anticipate any appreciable threat for wind/sea headlines even in the offshore 20-60 NM zones.
After winds subside a bit Thu into early Fri they should pick back up later Fri/Fri night as another cold front begins to approach but once again stay below SCA criteria.
ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.
| Stations | Dist | Age | Wind | Air | Water | Waves | inHg | DewPt |
| MBIN7 | 5 mi | 63 min | N 4.1G | 53°F | 30.26 | 48°F | ||
| MBNN7 | 11 mi | 63 min | N 2.9G | 52°F | 30.26 | 50°F | ||
| 41038 - ILM2 - 5 miles SE of Wrightsville Beach, NC | 12 mi | 55 min | N 5.8G | 58°F | 68°F | 30.27 | 53°F | |
| 41110 - Masonboro Inlet, NC | 13 mi | 63 min | 60°F | 68°F | 3 ft | |||
| JMPN7 - 8658163 - Johnny Mercer Pier, Wrightsville Beach, NC | 14 mi | 45 min | NNW 5.1G | 65°F | 30.27 | |||
| WLON7 | 14 mi | 45 min | 71°F | 30.27 | ||||
| 41108 | 22 mi | 67 min | 66°F | 3 ft | ||||
| 41037 - ILM3 - 27 miles SE of Wrightsville Beach, NC | 29 mi | 55 min | NE 7.8G | 63°F | 30.28 | 48°F | ||
| 41024 - Sunset Nearshore (SUN 2) | 33 mi | 55 min | N 3.9G | 54°F | 64°F | 30.25 | 50°F | |
| SSBN7 | 34 mi | 51 min | 64°F | 2 ft | ||||
| 41013 - Frying Pan Shoals, NC Buoy | 41 mi | 53 min | NNE 12G | 63°F | 71°F | 5 ft | 30.26 | 49°F |
Wind History for Wrightsville Beach, NC
toggle option: (graph/table)
Link to 1 hour of 5 minute data for KSUT
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) for KSUT
Wind History Graph: SUT
(wind in knots)
GEOS Local Image of southeast
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Wilmington, NC,
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