{"id":1340,"date":"2026-05-24T20:34:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=1340"},"modified":"2026-05-24T20:34:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:34:35","slug":"33-rip-current-rescues-at-nc-beaches-to-start-memorial-day-weekend-high-risk-from-obx-to-wilmington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=1340","title":{"rendered":"33 rip current rescues at NC beaches to start Memorial Day weekend; high risk from OBX to Wilmington"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 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.<\/p>

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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.<\/p>\n

The rip current hazard on Sunday was issued for nearly all the North Carolina coast \u2014 starting at Duck near Virginia and extending through the Outer Banks down to Wilmington, which includes Carteret, Pender, and New Hanover counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh rip current risk in effect until 8 p.m. this evening,\u201d the weather service said. \u201cRip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A red flag up on Sunday with a high rip current risk in Kitty Hawk. Photo courtesy: Kitty Hawk Police Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In just one county, there are now 65 rip current rescues in a week, following 32 rescues at New Hanover County beaches last weekend. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And, on the same day, 10 swimmers were rescued just south of Wilmington by Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue, the weather service said.<\/p>\n

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Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue training last week ahead of the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day 2026. Photo courtesy: Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue and Kitty Hawk lifeguards posted red flags on their beach on Sunday, warning about rip currents.<\/p>

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\u201cSingle red flags are flying due to the HIGH rip current risk,\u201d Kitty Hawk police said. \u201cAll swimmers are discouraged from entering the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n