Topsail Beach Coverage

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

First sea turtle nest of the year found at Topsail Island

Beware of sea turtles on the beach, and let them be!

69-year-old Harnett County man second this week to drown at Topsail Beach

A 69-year-old man from Harnett County drowned Sunday in the New Topsail Inlet, according to police. He is the second person to die at the beach in one week.

Topsail Beach residents see more sand, little beach erosion

With a sense of relief, hurricane shutters come down on Friday.

Octopus strolling across Topsail Beach sandbar caught on camera

An octopus will generally spend the bulk of its life along the ocean's floor, but every now and then you may catch one going for a stroll on the beach.

Alfred Charles, WRAL.com managing editor

Caught on camera: Octopus visits Topsail sandbar

The mollusc made an appearance on South Topsail Island, NC, this week. (Video courtesy Kris Joynes Chapin)

Topsail Island: Then and now

A look at Topsail Island right after Hurricane Florence vs. how it looks in May 2019.

Drone 5 flies over Topsail Island

Drone 5 flies over Topsail Island to gauge damage eight months after Hurricane Florence slammed the North Carolina coast.

15-foot great white shark pings off SC coast

OCEARCH, the data tracker application that records the travels of oceanic life, has registered a 15-foot shark named Luna pinged off the coast of Charleston.

Tips for sharing the ocean

Shark attacks are very rare, but they do happen in North Carolina.

Tracker app shows 3 great white sharks off NC coast

OCearch, the data tracker application that records the travels of oceanic life, has registered the presence of three great white sharks in recent weeks off the North Carolina coast.

Laws may get another look after refunds were hard to get for renters hit by Hurricane Florence

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has received more than 100 complaints from renters unable to get a refund or exchange for a vacation rental unavailable due to Hurricane Florence.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/consumer reporter

By law, you can get a refund if Hurricane Florence ruined your vacation rental

Among the costs of Hurricane Florence: vacation properties damaged to the point they can't be rented. 5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte has been hearing from people who can't use their vacation rental because it's damaged, yet are being told they won't get a refund.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/consumer reporter

Topsail Island residents return to find damage, but no catastrophe

Residents of Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach were allowed back onto the barrier island Thursday for the first time since it was battered by Hurricane Florence a week ago.

Kathryn Brown, WRAL anchor/reporter

Hurricane recovery begins for Topsail Island residents

Residents of Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach were allowed back onto the barrier island Thursday for the first time since it was battered by Hurricane Florence a week ago.

Topsail Beach homeowner gets unwelcome surprise

Sandy Edwards thought he would have to replace only a few shingles after Hurricane Florence - until he went inside.

Wilmoth: Topsail on 'wrong side' of Florence

WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said Topsail Island got the brunt of Hurricane Florence's wind and storm surge because they were on the northeast side of the storm.

First look: Conditions at Topsail Island as residents return

Kathryn Brown gives us a first look at the condition of Topsail Island after Hurricane Florence on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.

Sky 5: Roof damage evident in aerial view over NC beaches

Sky 5 got a look Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at some beach communities damaged by Hurricane Florence.

Topsail weathers Hurricane Florence

A look at Topsail following Hurricane Florence.

Raw: Flooding damages homes in N. Topsail Beach

Raw video of flooding in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina.

Florence parks waves in garage on North Topsail Beach

Waves driven by Hurricane Florence smash through the garage of a home on North Topsail Beach.

Florence's Impact :: Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018

Hurricane Florence is the sixth named storm, third hurricane and the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. If Florence continues on its projected path, it is expected to make landfall along the coast as a strong Category 1 storm the morning of Friday, Sept. 14.