Wilmington North Carolina News

6 minutes ago Tropical Storm Ophelia. Photo: MGN ANNAPOLIS, MD (AP) — Residents in coastal North Carolina and Virginia braced for potential flooding after Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall near a North Carolina barrier island on Saturday morning, bringing rain, damaging winds and dangerous surges of water. The storm came ashore near Emerald Isle with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph (113 kph) at around 6:15 a.m. but was expected to weaken as moves north Saturday…

11 minutes ago Wrightsville Beach during Tropical Storm Idalia WWAY NEWSWrightsville Beach during Tropical Storm Idalia WWAY NEWS WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Wrightsville Beach is no stranger to heavy rain and winds from tropical storms. With Ophelia expected to make landfall late Friday tonight, people are riding out the storm in different ways. Jerry Ryan is a visitor from Maryland. He’s enjoying some comfort food and just letting the storm just happen. “Eat here,…

7 minutes ago PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Ahead of Ophelia’s arrival, Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state of emergency which will help provide for swift response and recovery after the system passes.  Pender County is also prepping beforehand.  We went to Hampstead Friday afternoon to find out how emergency services in the area are getting ready.   We spoke with Emergency Management Director, Tommy Batson, he’s confident he and his team are prepared to weather the…

6 minutes ago Tropical Storm (Photo: NASA/MGN Online) RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Governor Roy Cooper has signed a State of Emergency in preparation for impacts from Tropical Storm Ophelia. “It is important for North Carolinians to prepare for potential impacts from the coming storm,” said Governor Cooper. “The storm’s path has been difficult to predict and we want to ensure that farmers, first responders and utility crews have the tools necessary to prepare for severe weather.”…

7 minutes ago Places like Sunset Beach saw moderate structural damage on the beaches to boardwalks, as well as dune erosion, but were able to conduct repairs quickly following the storm. (WWAY) SOUTHEASTERN, NC (WWAY)– One year ago, residents on the southwest coast of Florida were preparing for one of the strongest storms in the state’s history.   Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a category 4 hurricane, before making a second landfall near…

5 minutes ago Tropical Storm Ophelia has formed off the Cape Fear coast (Photo: NOAA) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After days of attempted organization, Tropical Storm Ophelia has formed off the Cape Fear coast. Ophelia has sustained winds of 60 mph and is moving NNW at 12 mph, as of the 2:00 p.m. advisory. Landfall is expected along the North Carolina coast north of our area on Saturday morning. While the Cape Fear won’t receive…

6 minutes ago (Photo: WWAY) MIAMI (AP) — A storm moving closer to the U.S. East Coast will deliver tropical storm conditions to North Carolina on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was off the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina early Friday with top sustained winds of 50 mph. A storm surge watch was in effect, with surges between 3 and 5 feet forecast for parts of North Carolina, the center…

10 minutes ago Two Cape Fear counties are under a Tropical Storm Warning (Photo: WWAY) WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for parts of the Cape Fear. New Hanover County and Pender County received the warning Thursday morning, as tropical storm-force winds are expected somewhere in the area within the next 36 hours. While full tropical development isn’t likely, a subtropical storm is possible as the system pushes up the…

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…