Coastal Flood Advisory Issued: What You Must Know Now About Rising Tides, Road Closures & Safety Measures

Coastal communities from southeastern North Carolina to northeastern South Carolina are on alert this weekend as the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a series of coastal flood advisories linked to tonight’s high-tide cycle. Advisory details • Brunswick County, NC – Valid 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; up to 0.5 ft of salt-water inundation is possible in low-lying areas and along tidal creeks. • Pender & New Hanover Counties, NC – Similar advisory window this evening as tides peak; minor flooding expected along the Intracoastal Waterway and area causeways. • Horry & Georgetown Counties, SC – The NWS highlights Myrtle Beach and surrounding marshes for nuisance-level flooding around the nighttime high tide. What areas are most at risk? • Beachfront parking lots, access roads and low-dune walkovers. • Causeways connecting barrier islands to the mainland, especially sections prone to ponding. • Back-bay neighborhoods and tidal creeks where water backs up more quickly than it drains. Why are tides running higher? A new-moon phase is coinciding with persistent onshore winds, allowing Atlantic water to pile up against the shoreline. Even without heavy rain, the elevated astronomical tide can push water 6-8 inches above normal benchmarks, enough to overtop bulkheads and fill storm drains that empty toward the coast. Potential impacts tonight • Pools of sea water on Highway 421 near Carolina Beach, U.S.-17 business routes through coastal Brunswick County and stretches of Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. • Brief lane closures or detours if salt water covers road surfaces. • Minor beach erosion near vulnerable dune lines during the late-evening tide. Safety tips from the NWS • Never drive through salt water—just 12 inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle off the road. • Give yourself extra travel time; obey barricades and police directions. • Secure outdoor belongings in yards prone to tidal flooding; brackish water can damage HVAC units and lawn equipment. • Mariners should check updated tide tables and be prepared for water level rises in marinas and along docks. Looking ahead These elevated tides will persist through at least Sunday night before gradually subsiding early next week as lunar forcing weakens and winds veer offshore. Residents in advisory zones should monitor later statements from their local NWS office and be ready for additional advisories during the next two high-tide cycles.