textproduct: NWS Wilmington

WHAT HAS CHANGED

The Gale Warning set to expire soon has been downgraded to a SCA through 7 AM Tuesday. Updated aviation discussion below for 12Z TAFs.

KEY MESSAGES

1) Breezy and chilly through tonight with wind chills as low as the upper teens and record lows possible at FLO and CRE.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...Breezy and chilly through tonight with wind chills as low as the upper teens and record lows possible at FLO and CRE.

CAA will continue today into tonight behind strengthening low pressure pushing off the NE. Result will be below normal temps...highs in the mid/upr 40s today then lows tonight in the mid 20s, both ~15 degrees below normal. Record lows appear safe in the two NC climate sites, but the two in SC will be close (see Climate section below for more info). Wind chill values will bottom out in the upr teens to lwr 20s, so a Cold Advisory (for values of 15 or lwr) is not anticipated.

AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/

VFR and dry through the 12Z TAF period. Main item of note is the continued breezy NW winds today gusting to ~25 kt. The gusts will finally diminish after sunset, but 8-10 kt sustained winds will continue into the evening hours.

Extended Forecast...VFR until Thursday, when flight restrictions due to increasing rain chances return.

MARINE

Through Tonight...The Gale Warning has been downgraded to a SCA as of 7 AM with gusts now only in the 25-30 kt range, with moderate CAA behind strengthening low pressure off to the NE. Gusts up to 25-30 kt and seas mainly in the 3-5 ft range continue for tonight.

Tuesday through Friday...Offshore flow will back to the west and then southwest through Tues into Tues night as high pressure migrates across Florida. Winds will diminish from 10 to 20 kts down to 10 kts or so but this will be short-lived as a cold front approaches and tightens up the gradient flow once again by Wed. Seas dropping down to 2 to 4 ft will build again reaching up to 4 to 6 ft. Should see SCA conditions return by Wed. Another brief drop in winds and seas should occur Thurs, but a return to heightened winds and seas comes by late Thurs into Fri with approach of the next cold front.

CLIMATE

Record lows for Tuesday morning 2/24/2026... Wilmington NC 18 set in 1901 Lumberton NC 18 set in 1978 N. Myrtle Beach SC 26 last set in 2009 Florence SC 24 set in 1968

ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...None. SC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EST Tuesday for AMZ250-252-254- 256.