textproduct: NWS Wilmington

WHAT HAS CHANGED

Updated watch/warning/advisory section.

KEY MESSAGES

1) Coastal hazards continue due to the strengthening Nor'easter offshore.

2) A dry Canadian airmass will bring the coolest temperatures since early June.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...Strong northeast winds over the past several days have banked two feet of water up against the coastline. This persistent tidal anomaly should create multiple rounds of minor coastal flooding during each high tide through at least Sunday morning. Water levels are forecast to exceed minor flood stage by up to 0.4 feet at Myrtle Beach, up to 0.9 feet at Wrightsville Beach, and 0.4 feet on the river in downtown Wilmington. There is some uncertainty as to which tide will be the largest over the weekend as we lose the north winds to westerly by Sunday but the backswell from the nor'easter continue while the moon continues to fill (full moon is Saturday).

In addition, large 11 to 12 second east-northeasterly swell will bring a high risk of rip currents through Saturday at the Pender and New Hanover county beaches. The shallow water on Frying Pan Shoals is sapping this swell of much of its amplitude and is shielding Brunswick County plus the Grand Strand from the worst of its effects.

KEY MESSAGE 2...High and dry through the weekend with highs approaching 80 then the lower to middle 80 with lows mostly in the lower to middle 50s eventually warming into the 60s.

AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

VFR conditions expected through the 00Z TAF period.

Extended Outlook...VFR conditions should prevail through early next week. There is a low chance of morning ground fog Tuesday as shallow Atlantic moisture returns onshore.

MARINE

Small craft conditions will continue through tonight for the NC nearshore waters. Conditions will improve dramatically starting Saturday night with seas falling to 3 ft or less.

ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for NCZ106- 108-110. High Risk for Rip Currents through Saturday evening for NCZ106-108. Coastal Flood Advisory until midnight EDT tonight for NCZ107. SC...Coastal Flood Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for SCZ054- 056. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Saturday for AMZ250-252.