Remember that weather forecasts can change rapidly. Check the forecast before you head to the beach. If you hear thunder, head indoors immediately. Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, which is far outside the rain/thunderstorm cloud. “Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm.

For more information and weather forecasts in your area, click the following links:

• Weather.gov
• Rip Current Forecasts from the National Weather Service

Lifeguards and important information that is posted on lifeguard stands provide beachgoers with valuable information about current beach conditions.

Lifeguard locations throughout Dare County and their times of operation for the 2023 season are as follows:

Nags Head

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day (with a roving patrol through October 15)
Albatross Street*
Abalone Street
Bonnett Street
Hollowell Street
Town Hall*
Enterprise Street
Epstein Street Bathhouse
Forrest Street
Gray Eagle Street*
Gulfstream Street
Hargrove Street
Ida Street*
Indigo Street
Juncos Street
Limulus Street*
*Will not be staffed from May 30 - June 18.

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Kill Devil Hills

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day (with a roving patrol through October 15)
Helga Street
Hayman Boulevard
Eden Street
Avalon Drive
Fifth Street
Third Street
Second Street
First Street
Coral Drive
Asheville Drive
Woodmere Avenue
Carlow Avenue
Ocean Bay Boulevard
Oregon Avenue
Baum Street
Clark Street
Martin Street
Atlantic Street
Neptune Drive
Lake Drive
Eighth Street

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Kitty Hawk 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day (plus a roving patrol)
Byrd Street
Eckner Street
Lillian Street
Kitty Hawk Bath House

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10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day
Hillcrest Drive
Chicahauk Trail
(plus a roving patrol through October 31)

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mid-June through Mid-August
East Dogwood Trail
142 Ocean Boulevard

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Duck

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May 27, 2023 through September 4, 2023

Caffey’s Inlet
Sprigtail Drive
Barrier Island Station
Schooner Ridge Drive
Christopher Drive
Four Seasons Lane

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 17, 2023 through August 13, 2023
Ocean Pines Drive
Widgeon Drive
South Snow Geese Drive
Dune Road
Scarborough Lane
Plover Drive
Charles Jenkins Lane

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day

Coquina Beach (across from the Bodie Island Lighthouse)
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach (adjacent to the Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse site)
Frisco Beach (located just south of Frisco Village)
Ocracoke Beach (1.5 miles south of the National Park Service campground OR .5 mile north of Ocracoke Village)

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Reminder: Should conditions on the beach change, lifeguard stand locations may be shifted.

Please heed words of caution, advisories an/or the flying of red (no swimming) flags. These are issued for your safety!

Rip currents, encounters with marine life, submerged objects, sandbar drop-offs and jellyfish are just a few of the hazards found in near-shore waters.

Stay alert to your surroundings, and keep an eye on family and friends. Don’t let alcohol impair your common sense. When visiting the beach with children, adults should take turns as being the designated “water watcher” and keep an eye on children in the water at all times, avoiding all distractions (including smartphones).

The force of shorebreak waves can catch unsuspecting swimmers off guard driving them into the sand, causing neck and back injuries, and in some cases even drowning.

Ocean and sound waters are the home to a wide variety of marine life including predators like sharks.

Beachgoers need to be aware of their surroundings before they make the personal decision to enter the water. To reduce your risks, avoid swimming in areas where people are fishing and near fishing piers, avoid areas where schools of fish are active, don’t wear or take jewelry and shiny objects into the water as reflective light resembles fish scales, and stay out of the water if you are bleeding or have open sores.

• Shark Sense by N.C. Sea Grant

Ocean rescue personnel and lifeguards must be able to drive on the sand day and night in order to quickly provide emergency services to those in need. Large holes that have been dug in the sand can be difficult to see and are dangerous obstacles for beachgoers and ocean rescue crews.

Sand collapses can occur in holes that are just a few feet deep. Children and adults should never dig holes that are deeper than their knees when standing in them. If you do dig a hole on the beach, be sure to fill it in fully before you leave!

In an emergency, every second counts!

The Dare County Sheriff’s 911 Communications staff may not be able to immediately identify your location from a cell phone. Pay attention to what street you use to access the beach or the sound, as well as what milepost you are located near. If you are unable to provide an address or location of the emergency, response times can be hindered in life or death situations.

For more information about the importance of knowing your location in the event of an emergency, please watch the video below.

If red flags are flying, swimming is prohibited. This is for your safety, as well as the safety of ocean rescue staff. Although flags may be posted on sunny, warm days with blue skies, if they are flying it means the water conditions are not safe to swim in.