Wilmington North Carolina News

11 minutes ago Severe Weather (Photo: MGN) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington National Weather Service has released its updated severe weather climatology report. Counties included in the report include Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender and Robeson in North Carolina, and Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg in South Carolina. Between 1991 and 2021 there were 5,265 reports of severe weather across the area covered by the National Weather Service forecast…

11 minutes ago SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) –Tropical Storm Idalia left Four Paws Veterinary Hospital without a building to use after the storm ripped off part of its roof. The hospital thought they would be out of luck, or that’s what they thought until a little divine intervention. “So, they actually reached out to us, they have two classrooms in the back of the building that they don’t use during the week. So, they allowed us…

6 minutes ago COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Five years following Hurricane Florence, we spoke with a Whiteville City official who shared his memories of the unforgiving storm.  “We were hoping for a fast-moving storm. But it was a slow-moving storm and it devastated our community and other communities in Columbus County. A devastation that we hadn’t seen in a long time,” Emergency Services Director, Hal Lowder, said.  The historic storm dumped nearly 23 inches…

September 14, 2023 WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — 5 years ago today, the Cape Fear experienced major impacts and damage from Hurricane Florence. New Hanover County was one of the hardest hit areas as the Category 1 hurricane made landfall near Wrightsville Beach and years later, there are still people trying to recover. Hurricane Florence caused an estimated $24 billion in damage, making it the 9th most destructive hurricane in U.S. history. Over the past 5…

12 minutes ago The NCDOT is in the running for two prizes for their flood warning system (Photo: NCDOT) RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The N.C. Department of Transportation’s nationally recognized advance flood warning system is in the running for two top prizes, and the state agency needs the public’s help to win one of the accolades. The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials is recognizing the flood warning system as a “Top 12” finalist in…

10 seconds ago Dangerous rip current conditions are present along the coast (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Hurricane Lee poses no direct threat to the Cape Fear, but it’s causing dangerous conditions along coast. Lee will pass by hundreds of miles offshore over the next day, but swell from the storm is generating waves upwards of six feet and numerous rip currents. There are currently rip current statements, high surf advisories and beach hazard…

12 minutes ago BOILING SPRING LAKES, NC (WWAY) — Thursday marks five years since Hurricane Florence rocked the Cape Fear Region and half a decade later several communities are still recovering. The hurricane destroyed all four dams in Boiling Spring Lakes. After working to secure funding for three years, crews officially broke ground on the reconstruction project in July. Jeff Winecoff, mayor of Boiling Spring Lakes, says it’s been a long time coming and seeing…

6 minutes ago Hurricane Lee latest forecast cone (Photo: NHC) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Major Hurricane Lee is forecast to miss the Cape Fear but the coast will still see impacts. As Lee turns to the north in the coming days, it is forecast to weaken but remain a hurricane as it moves between the Carolinas and Bermuda. Despite being hundreds of miles out in the ocean, Lee will send swell-generated waves of six to…

6 minutes ago Hurricane Lee on Sept. 9, 2023. Photo: National Hurricane Center SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Large swells battered the northeast Caribbean on Saturday as Hurricane Lee churned nearby through open waters as a Category 3 storm. The storm, which is not forecast to make landfall, was located about 350 miles (565 kilometers) east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. It had winds of up to 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving…

6 minutes ago Maui Wildfire Aftermath, Photo Date: 08/09/2023 HONOLULU (AP) — One month after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century leveled the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Friday that the number of missing has dropped to 66, the confirmed death toll remains at 115 and authorities will soon escort residents on visits to their property. Tens of millions of dollars in aid will make its way to families and…

(CNN) —Hurricane Lee is expected to continue strengthening Friday after quickly morphing into a powerful Category 5 storm that is now packing destructive maximum sustained winds of 165 mph as it spins hundreds of miles east of the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. ET advisory. The hurricane was located about 630 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the hurricane center said Friday in the 5 a.m. update. “Additional strengthening is…

6 minutes ago Ten nests were lost to flooding from recent storms in Holden Beach (Photo: Town of Holden Beach) HOLDEN BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The Town of Holden Beach has provided a sad update to their turtle nesting season. A combination of the King Tide, offshore Hurricane Franklin and Tropical Storm Idalia led to over washing and flooding of nests on the beach. The Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program says they lost at least…

6 minutes ago (Photo: Pixabay) BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Nearly a week after Tropical Storm Idalia moved through the Cape Fear, the National Weather Service has confirmed another tornado. This brings the confirmed storm total to four tornadoes, after three tornadoes were already verified last week by survey crews. The most recently-identified tornado was an EF0 with winds of 65 mph. It was on the ground for 0.44 miles reaching a peak width of 20…

1 minute ago Hurricane Fran and Dorian paths (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — September 5th has proven to be a significant day in Cape Fear hurricane history. Hurricane Fran made landfall as a category three hurricane on September 5, 1996 with strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricane Dorian didn’t make landfall in the Cape Fear, coming ashore along the outer banks, but still brought at least 15 tornadoes as strong as EF2 strength. So…

5 minutes ago The Battleship North Carolina parking area was flooded after Tropical Storm Idalia came through the area, Sept. 2, 2023. Photo: WWAY WILMINGTON (WWAY) — It’s been several days since Idalia hit the Cape Fear, but there are still plenty of places feeling its aftermath. At the Battleship North Carolina, the parking lot was still flooded on Saturday, leaving visitors to wade through water higher than their ankles in some spots. The flooding…