Surf Forecast
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC
Issued by NWS Wilmington, NC
886
FZUS52 KILM 201445
SRFILM
Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
NCZ106-210400-
Coastal Pender-
Including the beaches of Surf City and Topsail Beach
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....None.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 108.
Winds.......................Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Topsail Inlet............High at 02:22 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.FRIDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential**....Low.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of
showers and thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 107.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Topsail Inlet............Low at 08:22 AM EDT.
High at 03:23 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.EXTENDED...
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly
cloudy. Showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper
80s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly
sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.
Southwest winds around 5 mph.
.MONDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 3 feet. Mostly
sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the
upper 80s. North winds around 5 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/ilm
$$
NCZ108-210400-
Coastal New Hanover-
Including the beaches of Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island,
Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....None.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 108.
Winds.......................Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Mercer Pier..............High at 02:13 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.FRIDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 107.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Mercer Pier..............Low at 08:53 AM EDT.
High at 03:08 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.EXTENDED...
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly
cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 2 feet. Partly
sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Sunny. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southeast winds around 5 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/ilm
$$
NCZ110-210400-
Coastal Brunswick-
Including the beaches of Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach,
Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...
East of Ocean Isle Beach.Low.
Ocean Isle Beach West....Low.
Surf Height...
East of Ocean Isle Beach.Around 2 feet.
Ocean Isle Beach West....Around 2 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential**....None.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 109.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Oak Island...............High at 02:23 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.FRIDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...
East of Ocean Isle Beach.Low.
Ocean Isle Beach West....Low.
Surf Height...
East of Ocean Isle Beach.1 to 3 feet.
Ocean Isle Beach West....1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 109.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Oak Island...............Low at 08:42 AM EDT.
High at 03:19 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.EXTENDED...
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 4 feet.
Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in
the mid 80s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 4 feet. Mostly
sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid
80s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 4 feet. Sunny. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
South winds around 5 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/ilm
$$
SCZ054-210400-
Coastal Horry-
Including the beaches of Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach,
Atlantic Beach, Windy Hill, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach,
and Garden City
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...
North of Myrtle Beach....Low.
Myrtle Beach South.......Low.
Surf Height...
North of Myrtle Beach....Around 2 feet.
Myrtle Beach South.......1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....None.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 110.
Winds.......................Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Springmaid Pier..........High at 02:25 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.FRIDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...
North of Myrtle Beach....Low.
Myrtle Beach South.......Low.
Surf Height...
North of Myrtle Beach....1 to 3 feet.
Myrtle Beach South.......1 to 2 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate.
Waterspout Risk**...........Low.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 110.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Springmaid Pier..........Low at 08:35 AM EDT.
High at 03:16 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.EXTENDED...
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 4 feet. Mostly
cloudy. Showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 4 feet. Mostly
sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the
upper 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
.MONDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 3 feet. Sunny. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
Southeast winds around 5 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/ilm
$$
SCZ056-210400-
Coastal Georgetown-
Including the beaches of Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach,
Pawleys Island, and Debordieu Beach
1045 AM EDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....None.
Waterspout Risk**...........Moderate.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 108.
Winds.......................Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Winyah Bay Entrance......High at 02:35 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................None.
.FRIDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low.
Surf Height.................1 foot.
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate.
Waterspout Risk**...........Moderate.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny until 5 PM, then mostly
cloudy. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 80s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 108.
Winds.......................South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
Winyah Bay Entrance......Low at 08:39 AM EDT.
High at 03:27 PM EDT.
Remarks.....................Moderate south to north longshore current.
.EXTENDED...
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Partly
sunny. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the
upper 80s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.SUNDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly
sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the
upper 80s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.
.MONDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Sunny. A
slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.
South winds around 5 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/ilm
$$