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Wilmington Storm Center

Live weather alerts and NOAA storm reports for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, with guides to hurricanes, hail, NCIUA Beach Plan claims, adjusters and roofers on the Cape Fear coast.

Last updated . This page refreshes itself every few minutes. For life-safety decisions, follow official NWS warnings, a NOAA Weather Radio, and local emergency officials.

Active watches, warnings and advisories

Counties: New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender.

1 active alert for the counties this site covers.

Coastal Flood Advisory

New Hanover County

Coastal Flood Advisory issued October 31 at 2:44AM EDT until October 31 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

From Sat, Oct 31 at 2:00 PM ET until Sat, Oct 31 at 4:00 PM ET. Issued by NWS Wilmington NC.

Full text
* WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level
expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal
waterways.

* WHERE...The lower Cape Fear River including downtown
Wilmington.

* WHEN...From 2 PM to 4 PM EDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...The lowest portions of USS North Carolina Road and
Battleship Road begin to observe minor coastal flooding. Water
begins to spread out of storm drains onto Water Street just
south of Market Street in downtown Wilmington.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Affected areas listed are based on
average tide conditions. Additional locations may experience
flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, high winds, or
other factors.

What to do: If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.

Checked Sat, Oct 31 at 3:32 AM ET. Source: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov).

On the Cape Fear coast, the big roof risk is wind: hurricanes, tropical storms, nor'easters and tornadoes spun up by landfalling storms. Hail is less common than inland, with 168 reports in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties since 2006, but it does happen most springs. The Storm Center brings together the live NWS Wilmington alerts, official storm reports and guides written for coastal homeowners, including those insured through the NCIUA Beach Plan.

Forecast for Wilmington

Overnight55°FPatchy FogWind N 3 to 9 mph
Saturday71°FMostly SunnyWind NE 8 to 12 mph
Saturday Night52°FMostly CloudyWind NE 8 mph
Sunday72°FMostly SunnyWind NE 7 to 12 mph
Sunday Night55°FMostly CloudyWind NE 9 mph
Monday74°FMostly CloudyWind NE 8 to 12 mph

Overnight: Patchy fog before 3am. Mostly clear, with a low around 55. North wind 3 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.

NWS forecast for Wilmington, updated Sat, Oct 31 at 3:32 AM ET.

Storm reports in the last 7 days

No hail, damaging wind or tornado reports in the covered counties in the last 7 days.

Storm reports by county, last 12 months

CountyHailWindTornado
New Hanover060
Brunswick050
Pender081

Storm Prediction Center filtered storm reports, last 365 days, through Oct 31, 2026. One storm can produce several reports.

Hail reports

No hail of one inch or larger has been logged in the covered counties in the last 12 months. Smaller hail often goes unreported.

All recent hail, wind and tornado reports (latest 60)
WhenTypeWhereReport notes
Tornado
tornado		Atkinson
Pender County		Tornado sighted near Rankin St and Beattys Bridge Rd heading northeast toward Hwy 421 and Point Caswell Rd.
Wind
wind damage		3 NE Willard
Pender County		Tree was blown down on the eastbound lanes of I-40. Time estimated by radar.
Wind
wind damage		5 NE Sandy Creek
Brunswick County		Trees down on Hawk's Nest Drive in Leland... NC.
Wind
wind damage		Currie
Pender County		Fallen trees caused widespread power outages near the Currie area.
Wind
wind damage		4 E Atkinson
Pender County		EM reported trees down west of Burgaw along Bell Williams Rd.
Wind
wind damage		4 NE Currie
Pender County		EM reported trees down near Malpass Corner.
Wind
wind damage		1 N Bayshore
New Hanover County		Tree down on home along Old Market St. Time estimated by radar and time of report.
Wind
wind damage		3 S Sandy Creek
Brunswick County		Tree down at Maco Rd and Charity Way. Time estimated by radar.
Wind
wind damage		1 W Rocky Point
Pender County		Tree down at Hayduke Ln and Hwy 210. Time estimated by radar and report time.
Wind
wind damage		5 SW Penderlea
Pender County		Tree down at Tedder Rd and Jessie Moore Rd. Time estimated by radar and time of report.
Wind
wind damage		1 NW Ogden
New Hanover County		Large limb down near Middle Sound Loop Rd and Darden Rd. Time estimated by radar.
Wind
wind damage		4 SE Saint Helena
Pender County		Trees down on Old River Rd... with damage reported to a shed and siding.
Wind
58 mph wind		3 E Oak Island
Brunswick County		Weatherflow Station XOKI (Oak Island).
Wind
wind damage		2 NW Navassa
Brunswick County		LARGE TREE FELL ONTO REAR OF A HOME LOCATED ON EDGEHILL DRIVE.
Wind
wind damage		2 W Bayshore
New Hanover County		Several power outages in the area resulting from fallen trees and limbs
Wind
59 mph wind		Wilmington Intl Arpt
New Hanover County
Wind
wind damage		2 WSW Wilmington
New Hanover County		Large tree down on River Rd
Wind
wind damage		1 SW Seagate
New Hanover County		Palm tree down in yard on Bradford Rd in Wilmington
Wind
wind damage		Rocky Point
Pender County		Multiple trees down across the western part of the county... including one downed tree onto a car on US HWY 177 S.
Wind
wind damage		4 SSE Sandy Creek
Brunswick County		Trees down along Old Maco Rd... near Shiloh Methodist Church. Time estimated by radar.

Storm Center guide library

Plain-English guides for Wilmington and the Cape Fear coast homeowners, checked against the North Carolina Department of Insurance, NOAA, FEMA, IBHS, the NAIC and other neutral sources.

Was it hail? Damage and evidence

How do you spot hail damage on a coastal roof?How to spot hail damage on Wilmington-area roofs: shingles and metal beach-house roofs, gutters and vents, hail versus salt-air wear, and sizes that matter.What does hail damage look like? Photos for Cape Fear homeownersPhotos of hail damage on metal roofs, rooftop units, windows, walls and cars, and look-alikes common on the coast: algae, aging, installation and limb damage.How big was the hail, and how often does it get that big here?Hail sizes from pea to softball, how often each size has hit New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender since 2006, and what each one tends to do to a coastal roof.Hail just hit your Cape Fear home. What now?After hail in Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead or Southport: stay safe, take dated photos, tarp openings, and find out whether NCIUA or your insurer responds.What should you photograph after a coastal storm?A photo checklist for the Cape Fear coast after a hurricane, nor'easter or hail, how to keep wind and flood damage separate, and the records to save.How common is hail on the Cape Fear coast?Cape Fear hail by the numbers: NOAA reports for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender since 2006, by county and month, the largest stones and busiest days.

Your policy and your claim

How do you read a coastal homeowners policy before a roof claim?Read a coastal NC policy before a roof claim: two declarations pages if NCIUA covers wind, named-storm and wind/hail deductibles, RCV or ACV, code coverage.How does a roof insurance claim work in North Carolina?How a roof insurance claim works on the NC coast: when to file, NCIUA versus your homeowners policy, what adjusters do, deductibles and payments.Which deductible applies to your coastal roof claim?Named-storm and wind/hail deductibles in Wilmington, Brunswick and Pender: the NC trigger window, NCIUA's 1% minimum, and dollar examples to check yours.How does an older roof get paid on a coastal claim?How roof age changes a Cape Fear claim: replacement cost versus ACV, roof payment schedules, held-back depreciation, and why coastal roofs age faster.What should you ask your insurer (or NCIUA) when you report roof damage?What to ask your insurer or NCIUA when you report storm roof damage near Wilmington: which policy pays, which deductible applies, timelines and payments.

The adjuster, the estimate and disputes

What should you ask the adjuster when they inspect your coastal roof?What to ask the adjuster at a Cape Fear roof inspection: wind versus wear, hail hits per slope, repair or replace, code items, depreciation and matching.Which adjuster will you deal with on a coastal claim?Staff, independent, NCIUA and public adjusters on a Cape Fear roof claim: who works for whom, NC's 10% public adjuster cap after disasters, and prep.How do you read the insurer's roof estimate?Reading a Cape Fear roof estimate: squares, waste, high-wind code items, steep charges, depreciation, ACV, O&P and supplements.Your coastal roof claim was denied or underpaid. What are your options?Cape Fear roof claim denied or low? Get reasons in writing, compare estimates, request reinspection, try appraisal, or file with the NC Dept. of Insurance.

Other storm damage

How do hurricane roof claims work on the Cape Fear coast?Hurricane roof claims in Wilmington, Brunswick and Pender: the NCIUA Beach Plan, named-storm deductibles, wind versus surge, and lessons from Florence.What should you do after a tornado damages your Cape Fear home?Tornado roof damage around Wilmington: tropical rain-band and spring tornadoes, the 2021 Grissettown EF3, staying safe, and documenting damage for a claim.How do you spot wind damage on a Cape Fear roof?Wind damage on Wilmington, Brunswick and Pender roofs after hurricanes, nor'easters and squalls: creased shingles, metal edges, which policy pays.A tree fell on your Cape Fear home. What now?When a pine or live oak falls on a Cape Fear house: safety, removal, which policy pays including a neighbor's tree and NCIUA, and tree removal limits.Your roof is leaking after a coastal storm. What should you do?Roof leak after a hurricane or nor'easter in Wilmington: stopping water, wind-driven rain entry points, wind vs flood, mold and coverage.How do you protect an open roof after a coastal storm?Tarping a Cape Fear roof after a hurricane or nor'easter: why policies expect it, fastening against coastal wind, what's reimbursed, and Blue Roof rules.

Hiring a roofer and avoiding scams

What should you ask a Cape Fear roofer before you sign?Checking a roofer in Wilmington, Brunswick or Pender after a hurricane or hail: NC license rules, insurance certificates, a local address and coastal codes.How do you avoid storm chasers and roofing scams?How to spot storm chaser roofing scams in Wilmington: door knockers, deductible offers, contracts to sign on the spot, and what North Carolina law says.What is an assignment of benefits on a roof claim?What an assignment of benefits means on a Cape Fear roof claim, what rights you hand a contractor when you sign one, and questions to ask before agreeing.

Tools

Printable hurricane, hail and roof claim checklistsPrintable Cape Fear storm checklists: hurricane season prep, after hail, policy and NCIUA review, and questions for your insurer, adjuster and roofer.Coastal roof and claim words, explainedA Cape Fear roof claim dictionary: NCIUA, named-storm deductibles, ACV and RCV, holdback, appraisal, creased shingles, wind uplift and salt corrosion.

How often does hail hit Wilmington and the Cape Fear coast?

168 hail reports from 2006 through 2025 in the counties we cover, 19 of them golf ball size or larger, plus 209 thunderstorm wind reports and 68 tornado records (NOAA Storm Events Database).

3Jan
0Feb
11Mar
25Apr
49May
49Jun
14Jul
6Aug
5Sep
4Oct
2Nov
0Dec

Full local hail history: by county, largest hail and biggest hail days

What do these alerts mean?

AlertWhat it meansWhat to do about your roof
Severe thunderstorm watchConditions favor severe storms (hail 1 inch or larger, or wind 58 mph or more) over the next several hours.Move cars under cover, secure loose items, clear gutters if it is safe.
Severe thunderstorm warningA severe storm is happening or about to happen in the warned area.Get inside, away from windows. Do not go out to cover the roof.
Tornado watch / warningWatch: tornadoes are possible. Warning: a tornado is indicated or observed. Take shelter now.Shelter in the lowest interior room. Check for damage only when the warning ends.
Wind advisory / high wind warningStrong non-thunderstorm winds that can bring down limbs and lift shingles.Watch for falling limbs; check for lifted or missing shingles afterward.
Tropical storm / hurricane watch or warningTropical-storm or hurricane-force winds are possible (watch) or expected (warning).Check your hurricane or named-storm deductible; photograph the roof before the storm.

After the storm passes

  1. Check for hazards: downed lines, gas smell, trees on the house.
  2. Photograph damage before cleanup. Photo checklist
  3. Cover openings. Emergency tarping
  4. Check your deductible, then call your insurer. Claim steps
  5. Get a licensed local roofer to inspect. Directory

Storm Center questions

Was there hail in Wilmington today?

Check the alerts and the latest storm reports at the top of this page. Reports are preliminary and depend on someone reporting hail, so also check your own gutters, vents and car.

What should I do first after a storm damages my roof?

Stay safe, photograph the damage and any hailstones with dates, cover openings with a tarp and keep receipts, check your deductible, then report the claim. Use the printable after-the-hail checklist.

What should I ask my insurance adjuster?

Ask what damage was found on each slope, whether the roof will be repaired or replaced and why, which line items and code items are included, how depreciation was calculated and how to submit a supplement. Print our adjuster question list.

How often does hail hit Wilmington and the Cape Fear coast?

From 2006 through 2025, the NOAA Storm Events Database lists 168 hail reports in the 3 counties around Wilmington, 97 of them 1 inch or larger and 19 golf ball size or larger. Hail season: April through June.

Official sources

WilmingtonNCRoofer.com is an information site, not an insurer, contractor, adjuster or law firm, and nothing here is legal or insurance advice. Policies vary; check your own policy. Laws and rules can change.

Alerts and forecasts: National Weather Service, api.weather.gov. Storm reports: NOAA Storm Prediction Center filtered local storm reports; reports are preliminary, depend on someone reporting, and times are converted to Eastern time. No report near you does not mean no damage occurred.