Surf City to Cape Fear, NC out 20 NM Marine Forecast
| This Afternoon...N Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Gusts Up To 20 Kt Early. Seas 2 To 4 Ft. Wave Detail: N 2 Ft At 4 Seconds And Sw 2 Ft At 6 Seconds. |
| Tonight...N Winds 5 To 10 Kt. Seas 2 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 2 Ft At 4 Seconds And S 1 Ft At 6 Seconds. |
| Fri...Ne Winds 5 To 10 Kt, Increasing To 10 To 15 Kt With Gusts Up To 20 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 2 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 2 Ft At 4 Seconds And S 1 Ft At 5 Seconds. |
| Fri Night...Ne Winds 15 To 20 Kt, Increasing To 20 To 25 Kt After Midnight. Gusts Up To 30 Kt. Seas 2 To 3 Ft, Building To 3 To 5 Ft After Midnight. Wave Detail: E 3 Ft At 4 Seconds And E 1 Ft At 9 Seconds, Becoming Ne 5 Ft At 5 Seconds And E 1 Ft At 10 Seconds. A Chance Of Rain In The Evening, Then Rain Likely After Midnight. |
| Sat...N Winds 25 To 30 Kt With Gusts Up To 40 Kt. Seas 5 To 8 Ft. Wave Detail: Ne 7 Ft At 6 Seconds And Se 1 Ft At 10 Seconds. Rain Likely In The Morning, Then Rain And Snow In The Afternoon. |
| Sat Night...N Winds 25 To 30 Kt, Becoming Nw 30 To 35 Kt After Midnight. Gusts Up To 45 Kt. Seas 6 To 9 Ft. Wave Detail: N 7 Ft At 6 Seconds And Ne 6 Ft At 10 Seconds. Snow. |
| Sun...Nw Winds 30 To 35 Kt, Diminishing To 25 To 30 Kt In The Afternoon. Seas 6 To 9 Ft. A Chance Of Snow In The Morning. |
| Sun Night...Nw Winds 20 To 25 Kt. Seas 5 To 7 Ft. |
| Mon...Nw Winds 15 To 20 Kt. Seas 3 To 5 Ft. |
| Mon Night...Nw Winds 10 To 15 Kt. Seas 2 To 4 Ft. |
| Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wilmington NC 127pm EST Thu Jan 29 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... A Winter Storm Watch remains out for the ILM CWA. A Gale Watch is out for the coastal waters Saturday morning through Sunday. An Excessive Cold Watch is out covering dangerous cold possible Saturday night/Sunday morning and Sunday night/Monday morning. .KEY MESSAGES... 1) Temperatures well below normal will result in periods of dangerously low wind chill temperatures less than 16 degrees through at least Monday night. 2) Conditions remain favorable and confidence is increasing for significant winter weather this weekend. Expect impacts to travel and infrastructure, ranging from hazardous to dangerous conditions and closures. KEY MESSAGE 1...Temperatures well below normal will result in periods of dangerously low wind chill temperatures less than 16 degrees through at least Monday night. Dynamic storm system will usher in a very cold and somewhat prolonged air mass beginning late Saturday/early Sunday through really about the middle of next week. This along with sufficient confidence has prompted the issuance of an Extreme Cold watch. In pure terms Sunday may technically increase above the criteria...it will be a rugged and cold day and with Extreme Cold Warning criteria redeveloping by Monday morning. Suffice to say significant snow cover will help to sustain these conditions. KEY MESSAGE 2:...Conditions remain favorable and confidence is increasing for significant winter weather this weekend. Expect impacts to travel and infrastructure, ranging from hazardous to dangerous conditions and closures. Currently we're sitting on the cusp of getting some of the higher res guidance for our winter storm, so for now the global models remain our main source of info. Wouldn't be surprised if the hi-res guidance introduces more uncertainty with future forecast cycles, but for now the globals remain consistent with the overall pattern and no major changes, the EURO remaining on the lighter side when it comes to snowfall totals. Deep, cold air in place paired with the passing shortwave becoming offshore low into the weekend will bring moisture in leading to snow over the area. Moistening of the column through Saturday, particularly the afternoon onwards, would be the start of the snowfall for our area. The heaviest snowfall would occur Saturday night as mid- level frontogenesis increases with the development of the low. Precip type still remains largely snow, with a light wintry mix possible at the start of the event as the column changes, but no meaningful accumulations expected. Expected snowfall totals across the area have increased. Marine Through Friday...Winds will maintain a northerly component through the period. Speeds currently in the 10-15 knot range will decrease slightly to a 5-10 knot range tonight and then ramp up again Friday. Significant seas will see a slight variation but remain confined to a range of 2-4 feet. Friday Night through Tuesday...Deteriorating marine conditions to start the period due to an approaching winter storm. Overnight Friday into Saturday morning winds and seas will increase, gusting ~25 kts with 6 footers. A Gale Watch is in effect for late Saturday morning through Sunday, and gusts near storm force may be possible. The storm will move away through Sunday night with improving conditions through Monday. Benign conditions should return by Tuesday. NOAA Wilmington NC Office: Watches - Warnings - Advisories NC...Winter Storm Watch from late Friday night through Sunday afternoon for NCZ087-096-099-105>110. Extreme Cold Watch from Saturday evening through Monday morning for NCZ087-096-099-105>110. SC...Winter Storm Watch from late Friday night through Sunday afternoon for SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059. Extreme Cold Watch from Saturday evening through Monday morning for SCZ017-023-024-032-033-039-054>056-058-059. Marine Gale Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday evening for AMZ250-252-254-256. |
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