New Hanover County, NC · Atlantic Ocean

Kure Beach

Quietest of the Pleasure Island beaches just south of Carolina Beach. The 711-foot Kure Beach Pier is the oldest on the Atlantic coast. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Civil War earthworks are within 5 minutes.

Today's Conditions

Great day for a beach walk.

NWS alert active · 85°F water · 86°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 86. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 84. Southwest wind around 22 mph.

Weather

86°F air — ideal beach weather
18 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

85°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 2:32pm edt until july 19 at 11:00pm edt by nws wilmington nc

57 /100

good

37 Swim

65 Sunbathe

80 Walk

47 Fish

76 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 0.8 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8658163 · Observed 0.88 ft · Predicted 0.08 ft

Small Craft Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:32PM EDT until July 19 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

NWS · In effect through Jul 20, 3:00 AM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 4 to 6 ft expected. * WHERE...Southeast North Carolina coastal waters out 20 NM. * WHEN...From 4 PM this afternoon to 11 PM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

86°F

Clear

Wind

18 mph

Rain

This Afternoon

UV Peak

10 Very High

High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m

Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

86°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny

Water

Water Temp

85°F

Swimming weather

Next High Tide

11:38 PM

4.5 ft · in 2.6h

Wave Height

3.3 ft

5s · S swell

Barometer

29.99 inHg

1016 hPa

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (AMZ250)

The ILM office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

NCZ106 Coastal Pender — Surf City and Topsail Beach n/a
NCZ108 Coastal New Hanover — Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island, n/a
NCZ110 Coastal Brunswick — Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach, n/a
SCZ054 Coastal Horry — Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, n/a
SCZ056 Coastal Georgetown — Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, n/a

NWS SRF · ILM · Issued Jul 18, 2:44 PM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:13 AM

Sunset

8:22 PM

Moon · 18%

Waxing Crescent

Neap tides — smaller range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
5:09 AM	Low	-0.3 ft
11:20 AM	High	4.5 ft
5:23 PM	Low	0.0 ft
11:38 PM	High	4.5 ft

Time	Type	Height
5:57 AM	Low	-0.1 ft
12:13 PM	High	4.5 ft
6:21 PM	Low	0.4 ft

Time	Type	Height
12:26 AM	High	4.2 ft
6:49 AM	Low	0.1 ft
1:04 PM	High	4.4 ft
7:27 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:14 AM	High	3.8 ft
7:45 AM	Low	0.3 ft
1:56 PM	High	4.3 ft
8:33 PM	Low	0.8 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:03 AM	High	3.5 ft
8:41 AM	Low	0.4 ft
2:50 PM	High	4.2 ft
9:33 PM	Low	0.9 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:55 AM	High	3.2 ft
9:31 AM	Low	0.5 ft
3:48 PM	High	4.2 ft
10:25 PM	Low	1.0 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:54 AM	High	3.1 ft
10:18 AM	Low	0.6 ft
4:46 PM	High	4.2 ft
11:13 PM	Low	1.0 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8658163, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jul 18

86°

Sunny

Sun Jul 19

86°

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny

15%

Mon Jul 20

85°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

34%

Tue Jul 21

85°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

39%

Wed Jul 22

85°

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

59%

Thu Jul 23

82°

Showers And Thunderstorms

77%

Fri Jul 24

82°

Rain Showers Likely

56%

What to Bring Today

critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 18 mph wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 85°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Best Fishing Times Today

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Minor

10:20 PM - 11:20 PM

Major

3:40 AM - 5:40 AM

Minor

10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

Major

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Beach Info

Parking

Free public lots at major accesses. Metered street parking near the pier.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the beach 9 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed (max 15 ft) at other times.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449

Amenities

lifeguardsfishing pierrestroomsaquarium nearbyhistorical site nearby

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Kure Beach today?

Kure Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Kure Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the beach 9 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed (max 15 ft) at other times.

Is there an entry fee at Kure Beach?

Entry to Kure Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Kure Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Kure Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Kure Beach?

Amenities at Kure Beach include lifeguards, fishing pier, restrooms, aquarium nearby, historical site nearby.

When is the water warmest at Kure Beach?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Kure Beach located?

Kure Beach is in New Hanover County, NC, at Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449.