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Daily Beach & Coastal Conditions โ€” Southeastern NC

Updated: June 13, 2026 at 05:33 PM ET

Saturday's shaping up as a warm, muggy beach day with a few pop-up storms in the mix.

New Hanover
County

Wrightsville Beach ยท Carolina Beach ยท Kure Beach

Surf Height1 foot
UV IndexExtreme

Watch for a moderate south-to-north longshore current and stay hydrated โ€” that extreme UV index combined with heat advisory means sunscreen and plenty of water are non-negotiable today.

Pender County

Surf City ยท Topsail Beach

Surf Height1โ€“2 ft
UV IndexExtreme

Thunderstorm risk is moderate here, so keep an eye on the sky and know where shelter is located; head inland if storms develop nearby.

Brunswick County

Oak Island ยท Holden Beach ยท Ocean Isle Beach ยท Sunset Beach

Surf Height~2 ft
UV IndexExtreme

Even though rip current risk is low, the moderate longshore current can still push swimmers north โ€” swim near a lifeguard and stay aware of the drift.

๐Ÿ–๏ธ

Best Beach Bet for Saturday

Brunswick County

Brunswick has the lowest rain chance at 26 percent and slightly warmer water near 80 degrees, making it your best bet for a dry beach day.

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Wilmington Area

๐ŸŒŠ Tides & Daylight

๐ŸŒ…Sunrise5:57 AMEDT
๐ŸŒŠHigh Tide8:21 AM& 9:00 PM4.0 ft
๐Ÿ–๏ธLow Tide3:06 AM& 2:56 PMHeight: 0.1 ft
๐ŸŒ†Sunset8:25 PMEDT
โ›ˆ๏ธSkyChance Showers And ThunderstormsMild & pleasant

๐Ÿ“… 3 Day Beach Forecast

Today โ€” Sat, Jun 13

โ›ˆ๏ธ

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

High 85ยฐF · Low 79ยฐF

SW 14 mph · Waves 1 foot · Rip risk Low (New Hanover)

Sun, Jun 14

โ›ˆ๏ธ

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

High 83ยฐF · Low 79ยฐF

SW 9 to 21 mph · Waves 1โ€“2 ft · Rip risk Low (New Hanover)

Mon, Jun 15

โ›ˆ๏ธ

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

High 83ยฐF · Low 75ยฐF

W 8 to 13 mph · Monitor rip outlook

Today’s Surf Details
  • Surf Height: 1 foot
  • Wind: South winds 5 to 10 mph
  • Water Temp: In the upper 70s
  • UV Index: Extreme
  • Tides: Low at 12:11 PM EDT
  • Longshore Current: Moderate south to north longshore current
  • Thunderstorm Risk: Low
  • Waterspout Risk: Low
  • Remarks: Moderate south to north longshore current
Sunday’s Surf Details
  • Surf Height: 1โ€“2 ft
  • Wind: Southwest winds around 10 mph, increasing to south around 20 mph in the afternoon
  • Tides: High at 06:59 AM EDT
  • Longshore Current: Strong south to north longshore current
  • Thunderstorm Risk: None
  • Waterspout Risk: Moderate
  • Remarks: Strong south to north longshore current

For the Beach Explorers

๐Ÿš Shelling & Golden Hour

๐Ÿš

Shelling Conditions: Excellent

Low tide at 2:56 PM ยท SOU wind ยท 1 foot surf

Shell yeah! Today's an excellent day to hunt for shells, and you'll want to time it right by heading out around 2:56 PM when we hit low tide. Those south winds are classic for piling shells along the shoreline, so you should find some nice deposits. Conditions are calm with just 1 foot of surf, making it easy to walk the flats and spot shells without fighting rough water or strong currents.

Today's low tide window has passed. If you missed it, no worries โ€” Sunday's low tide hits around 3:54 PM, and conditions are looking Excellent for shelling.

Shells to look for today

๐ŸšLightning Whelk
๐ŸšScotch Bonnet
๐ŸšOlive Shell
Best Shelling Hot Spots Near Wilmington
  • Fort Fisher State Recreation Area — South of Wilmington, the rock jetty area is a local favorite for whole whelks, lettered olives, baby's ears, and the occasional heart urchin.
  • Masonboro Island Reserve — This undeveloped barrier island (boat or kayak access only) is one of the best spots near Wilmington for large, unbroken whelks, moon snails, and the rare Scotch Bonnet.
  • Figure Eight Island — A private, gated community just north of Wrightsville Beach reached only by guarded causeway (residents, guests, and renters only) — but the lightly-picked beaches are a shelling jackpot if you can get there.
  • Wrightsville Beach (North End) — The far north end is known for keyhole sand dollars and pen shells, especially after fall and winter storms once the summer crowds thin out.
Tips for a Successful Shell Hunt
  • Time it with low tide — go within an hour before or after low tide, when the most beach and sandbars are exposed.
  • Chase the storms — the best shelling often follows a strong storm or nor’easter, when wave action churns up the seafloor and washes deeper-water shells onto the beach.
  • Know the rules — at protected sites like Fort Fisher and Masonboro Island Reserve, it’s illegal to take live shells. Always check that a shell is empty before keeping it, and gently return any shell with an animal still inside.
Shell ID Guide — Common Shells of the NC Coast
  • Lightning Whelk — A large spiral shell with brown “lightning bolt” streaks on younger shells. Fun fact: it’s one of the few shells that spiral to the left — hold it with the opening facing you and the coil winds counterclockwise.
  • Scotch Bonnet — A rounded, helmet-shaped shell with rows of square tan spots on a cream background. Fun fact: it’s North Carolina’s official state shell, named for its resemblance to a Scottish tam o’shanter cap.
  • Olive Shell — A small, glossy, cylinder-shaped shell, often tan, olive, or cream. Fun fact: the live animal plows just under the wet sand at the surf line, leaving a tiny trail — that’s often the easiest way to spot one.
  • Knobbed Whelk — A large, heavy shell with a row of knobby bumps along its shoulder. Fun fact: it’s the largest whelk on the East Coast (up to 9 inches) and preys on clams by using the edge of its own shell to pry them open.
  • Shark Eye (Atlantic Moon Snail) — A smooth, round, low-spired shell with a dark spiral “eye” pattern at its center. Fun fact: it lays eggs in papery, sand-covered rings called “sand collars” that often wash up looking like a strange piece of plastic.
  • Keyhole Sand Dollar — A flat, round shell with five narrow slots, or “keyholes,” through the body. Fun fact: while alive it’s covered in tiny purple spines and feels fuzzy — the bright white sand dollars you find on the beach are the bleached skeleton.
  • Coquina Clam — A tiny (under 1 inch) wedge-shaped clam in shades of pink, purple, yellow, and blue. Fun fact: watch the wet sand as waves recede — coquinas burrow back down within seconds, leaving little “V”-shaped wakes where they disappear.
๐Ÿ“ท

Golden Hour โ€” Perfect Light for Photography

Golden hour bathes the beach in warm, directional light โ€” long shadows, amber water, and colors that no filter can replicate. Chase these windows today.

Morning Golden Hour5:57 AM โ€“ 6:53 AMAlready passed today
Evening Golden Hour7:31 PM โ€“ 8:25 PMBefore sunset โ€” don't miss it
7-Day Golden Hour Outlook โ€” Plan Ahead
DayMorning Golden HourEvening Golden Hour
TodayJun 135:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:29 PM โ€“ 8:23 PM
SundayJun 145:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:29 PM โ€“ 8:23 PM
MondayJun 155:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:30 PM โ€“ 8:24 PM
TuesdayJun 165:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:30 PM โ€“ 8:24 PM
WednesdayJun 175:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:30 PM โ€“ 8:24 PM
ThursdayJun 185:58 AM โ€“ 6:54 AM7:31 PM โ€“ 8:25 PM
FridayJun 195:59 AM โ€“ 6:55 AM7:31 PM โ€“ 8:25 PM

๐Ÿ” Beach Alerts & Advisories

Heat Advisory โ€” Heat Advisory issued June 13 at 12:49AM EDT until June 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Coastal Flood Advisory โ€” Coastal Flood Advisory issued June 13 at 2:46PM EDT until June 13 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Severe Thunderstorm Warning โ€” Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 13 at 5:16PM EDT until June 13 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC
Heat Advisory โ€” Heat Advisory issued June 13 at 12:06PM EDT until June 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Raleigh NC

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