Latest news with #swimmingadvisory
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Memorial Day weekend at NC coast: Concerns after 13 rip current rescues last week, 2 active swim advisories for bacteria
OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) — With Memorial Day weekend a kickoff for the summer beach season, North Carolina coastal areas are watching for dangerous rip currents and two swimming spots are under scrutiny for high bacteria levels. At least two coastal swim advisories are in effect, with high levels of bacteria recorded heading into the weekend, state officials said. Last weekend, there were 13 rip current rescues in Carteret County at Emerald Isle — which was under a moderate rip current risk at the time, the National Weather Service reported. Just last week, three North Carolina coastal swimming areas were under an advisory by the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. However, advisories in Dare County at the Outer Banks and in New Hanover County near Wilmington were lifted by Wednesday, state officials said. But, on Thursday, a new swim advisory was issued for a sound-side site in Brunswick County in Southport, officials said. Don't swim at these NC beaches, officials warn; man-of-war swarm OBX and NC island The new advisory is for the public kayak launch in Cottage Creek at the end of W. West Street in Southport. Test results of water samples taken Tuesday and Wednesday indicate bacteria levels that exceed the state and federal action levels of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters. Also, an earlier swimming advisory in Beaufort County is still in effect for public access to Pantego Creek at East Main and Tooley streets in Belhaven. Test results of water samples indicate a running monthly average of 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. This exceeds the state and federal standards of a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters. The advisories are not beach closures. Swimming advisories are for waters within 200 feet of signs erected about each advisory. State recreational water quality officials sample 222 sites throughout the coastal region, most of them weekly, from April to October. Rip currents are an important focus for authorities at the North Carolina coast, where dozens of rip current rescues took place several weekends last summer. A high rip current risk was issued Wednesday for several beaches, including Oak Island in Brunswick County and Emerald Isle in Carteret County. Last weekend, lifeguards rescued 13 Emerald Isle swimmers when there was a moderate risk for rip currents at that beach. For Memorial Day weekend, rip currents are forecast as a moderate risk in most beach areas at the North Carolina coast. Meanwhile, Oak Island officials said Saturday they are still dealing with Portuguese man-o-war washing up on the beach. 'We recommend you watch your step on the strand and stay out of water. Their tentacles are long and burn like (fire),' Oak Island officials said on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Don't swim at these North Carolina beaches, officials warn of fecal bacteria link; man-of-war swarm NC island
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina health officials warned people against swimming in three areas at the coast this week due to high bacteria levels. Meanwhile, another Tar Heel coastal community warned about more visible beach dangers — painful stings from Portuguese Man-of-War. The bacteria warnings came after heavy rains this week, which can typically cause higher bacteria counts because of runoff from storms. The high-profile beach hazards — Portuguese Man-of-War — washed ashore on Friday, according to the Sunset Beach Fire Department in Brunswick County. 'These aren't jellyfish, but colonies of organisms with a powerful sting. Even when dead, their tentacles can still sting, so DO NOT TOUCH them,' said fire officials in Sunset Beach, an island about a mile from the South Carolina line. Fire crews said man-of-war are blue or purple with balloon-like floats on the water's surface or washed up on the sand. The organisms have long, thread-like tentacles that are painful. The most serious bacteria problem this week was at a sound-side beach across from Whiskey Creek along the Intracoastal Waterway near marker #135 in Wilmington, according to the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. Test results of water samples taken in Whiskey Creek on Wednesday and Thursday indicate bacteria levels that exceed the state and federal action levels of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters. The swimming advisory is 200 feet from the sign along the Intracoastal Waterway. Enterococci, the bacteria group used for testing, is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and is an indicator of fecal contamination in water. Further north, a swimming advisory was issued Thursday for part of the Outer Banks at a spot in Dare County, according to the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. Testing at Jockey's Ridge Sound-side Access in Nags Head found water samples that show a running monthly average of 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The levels in the Roanoke Sound exceed the state and federal standards of a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters, based on five samples taken within a 30-day period, officials said. This advisory is not a beach closing, nor does the advisory affect the entire Nags Head area. Swimming advisories are for waters within 200 feet of the sign. Another swimming advisory was issued Friday for a sound-side site in Beaufort County, officials said. The same levels of bacteria from Nags Head were found at a sound-side site in Beaufort County, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality said. The advisory is also for 200 feet from the sign. North Carolina water quality officials sample 221 sites throughout the coastal region, most of them on a weekly basis, from April to October. Click here to view the other sites and see when the advisories end for the areas from this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
