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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — With more than 30 rip current rescues at the North Carolina coast last weekend, Memorial Day weekend started Saturday with nearly three dozen rescues at beaches near Wilmington, officials said.
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On Sunday, a day after 25 rescues at Carolina Beach and 8 at Wrightsville Beach, a coastal hazard for high rip-current risk was issued by the National Weather Service office in Wilmington.
The rip current hazard on Sunday was issued for nearly all the North Carolina coast — starting at Duck near Virginia and extending through the Outer Banks down to Wilmington, which includes Carteret, Pender, and New Hanover counties.
“High rip current risk in effect until 8 p.m. this evening,” the weather service said. “Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
In just one county, there are now 65 rip current rescues in a week, following 32 rescues at New Hanover County beaches last weekend.
Last Saturday, 22 swimmers were rescued from rip currents on Sunday by Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue just east of Wilmington, according to the National Weather Service.
And, on the same day, 10 swimmers were rescued just south of Wilmington by Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue, the weather service said.
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue and Kitty Hawk lifeguards posted red flags on their beach on Sunday, warning about rip currents.
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“Single red flags are flying due to the HIGH rip current risk,” Kitty Hawk police said. “All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water.”
Carolina Beach had a yellow flag up on Saturday, during which there were eight rescues. Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue had a red flag warning up for rip currents on Saturday.
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue 
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue 
Two people of three that Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad rescued in April at the Outer Banks. Photo courtesy: Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad 
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue A red flag up on Sunday with a high rip current risk in Kitty Hawk. Photo courtesy: Kitty Hawk Police Department 
Emerald Isle Ocean Rescue practicing rescues using a personal watercraft. 
Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue 
Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad during a rescue of three people in April at the Outer Banks. Photo courtesy: Corolla Fire & Rescue Squad Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue
Meanwhile, in Carteret County, several agencies came together on Indian Beach on Friday to practice water rescues ahead of the summer season.
All four fire departments on Bogue Banks, Carteret County Emergency Services, and the U.S. Coast Guard station on Emerald Isle worked on surf and jet ski rescues as combined groups for one of the first times.
The departments ran through different drills, often saving multiple victims at a time. Deputy Chief of Indian Beach Fire Department Will Jackson says it is not uncommon for resources to get stretched thin, requiring other departments to come assist.
“I think that there’s a lot of common similarities in the way we operate with some little nuances,” Jackson said. “Although we’re all on the same island, there are some different geographic obstacles and resources that we have to overcome.”
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WNCT-TV contributed to this report