Beach Coverage

Seaweed blob, red tides greet spring break vacationers

A massive wall of algae, twice the width of the continental United States, is carrying six million tons of seaweed toward the Florida coast.

Topsail Beach celebrates the Year of Trail with monthly hikes

The Historical Society of Topsail Island, Missiles and More Museum, and Pender County Tourism will present the Topsail Beach Top Secret Hike on March 11, starting at 11 a.m.

Outer Banks homes at risk, funds to build back beaches in Rodanthe run out

Dare County leaders said communities are at risk from coastal erosion, but state law is holding them back from finding potential solutions.

'It's reaching a crisis point': Outer Banks leaders say they're out of funding to save threatened beach communities

Dare County leaders said communities are at risk from coastal erosion, but state law is holding them back from finding potential solutions.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Researchers inspect various kinds of microplastics found at NC beaches

The North Carolina Coastal Federation hosted the citizen science program in an effort to better understand what kind of plastic pollution was showing up on the beach.

Sampling program sheds light on microplastics and pollution at NC beaches

The North Carolina Coastal Federation hosted the citizen science program in an effort to better understand what kind of plastic pollution was showing up on the beach.

Stacia Strong, North Carolina Coastal Federation

Friends, family of SC woman killed by flying umbrella push for more regulations

Family and friends are pushing Horry County to enact new beach rules after a flying umbrella killed 63-year-old Tammy Perrault.

Natasha Laguerre, WMBF News

Tara Lynn: Motherhood and the ocean

Motherhood is introducing your child to new experiences. Toes in the sand. Seashells and watching a crab scurry along the sand back to his hiding place.

Tara Lynn, WRAL contributor

South Carolina woman killed by flying umbrella at the beach

A woman was killed Wednesday after being impaled by a beach umbrella in Garden City.

Record amount of seaweed chocking coasts of the Atlantic

Beachgoers have been reporting mounds of seaweed washing up on the shores of South Florida and scientists say record amounts are choking the coasts of the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

More fecal bacteria in oceans after storms

North Carolina's beaches could be brimming with bacteria due to aging infrastructure. Researchers at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City said they are seeing more fecal matter indicator bacteria in ocean water.

Beachgoers beware: Climate change may be increasing fecal bacteria at North Carolina beaches

Aging storm drains along the east coast are further deteriorating due to rising sea levels and higher high tides that push saltwater into the pipes, corroding them and mixing sewage with stormwater runoff.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL climate change reporter

Wrightsville Beach renourishment project uncovers hundreds of thousands of tires in the ocean

After officials tasked with filling in Wrightsville's eroding beach were pushed offshore to source sand, they made a daunting discovery: Hundreds of thousands of tires that likely migrated from an artificial reef created by the Division of Marine Fisheries decades ago.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL Climate Change Reporter

300,000 tires found in Wrightsville Beach delays renourishment

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found about 300,000 tires of an old reef. In the 1970s, the Division of Marine Fisheries placed more than 600,000 tires in the waters off the Carolina coast.

Digging holes in the sand can be dangerous, NC beach town warns

Did you know digging holes on the beach can be dangerous?

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Makeshift boat washes ashore at Caswell Beach

Emily Poole posted photos of the boat that had fuel containers, rusty tools, oars and various other items. Bags inside the boat were labeled "Made in Cuba."

Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer & WECT News

With lifeguards scarce, it's beach season that needs rescuing

MILWAUKEE -- On the first week of June in Wisconsin, beachgoers on a neatly groomed Lake Michigan shore strolled past volleyball nets on rainbow-striped poles and a waterfront cafe menu offering bratwurst, quesadillas and mojitos.

Julie Bosman, New York Times

New campaign underway to educate NC beachgoers on rip current dangers

A former public safety official says just because the flags on the beach aren't red doesn't mean people can let their guard down.

Effort to restore Newport River a point of pride for those in Carteret County

In order to do that, shellfish harvesters and growers need clean water to cultivate clams and oysters. Several groups have come together to restore the Newport River.

By Stacia Strong, North Carolina Coastal Federation

Living shorelines becoming more prevalent in protecting NC's coast

One environmentally friendly approach is beginning to gain attention -- living shorelines. Coastal areas face many threats from hurricanes and strong storms. It's left many wondering how to protect their property.

Stacia Strong, North Carolina Coastal Federation

Portuguese Man O' Wars more active along beaches as summer nears

Portuguese Man O' Warnings were issued for Florida and South Carolina beaches.

2022 North Carolina festival guide: Festivals in NC for spring and beyond

Here's a month-by-month look at festivals in NC from the mountains to the coast.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

A-frame style beach house on the market in NC for $5.5m

A newly-renovated A-frame style beach house has just hit the market at $5.5 million. The beach house is located on Figure Eight Island, a private island north of Wrightsville Beach.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

Beachgoers alerted to collapsed house in surf in Rodanthe

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is alerting beachgoers to a collapsed house between the villages of Rodanthe and Salvo.

Waves crash into homes in Massachusetts during Nor'easter

A Nor'easter brought strong winds and high waves to some areas along the coast in Massachusetts.