Active AlertsCore Banks South - Near Davis Short Ferry (C75A), NC

What: For the Beach Hazards Statement, dangerous rip currents, large breaking waves, and strong longshore currents in the surf zone. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 to 9 feet expected in the surf zone.
Where: Ocracoke Island and Core Banks beaches.
When: For the Beach Hazards Statement, until 8 PM EDT this evening. For the High Surf Advisory, until 11 AM EDT Thursday.
Impacts: Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Dangerous shore break can throw a swimmer or surfer head first into the bottom causing neck and back injuries. Strong longshore currents will create dangerous swimming conditions.

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Life-threatening rip currents. If caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim in a direction following the shoreline. If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Shore break occurs when waves break directly on the beach. It is extremely important to protect your head and neck whenever you are in breaking waves by keeping your hands in front of you at all times. Strong longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties and other hazardous areas. In many cases, the longshore current is strong enough to prevent swimmers from being able to keep their feet on the bottom making it difficult to return to shore.