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.

Eats & Drinks 8 Stay 6

Today's Conditions

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F water · 82°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind around 9 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Weather

82°F air — ideal beach weather
Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

82°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

81 /100

great

85 Swim

83 Sunbathe

87 Walk

73 Fish

82 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 0.6 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 2.49 ft · Predicted 1.87 ft

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

82°F

Sunny

Wind

9 mph

Rain

This Afternoon

UV Peak

8 Very High

High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 05 PM

Tomorrow

84°F

Sunny

Water

Water Temp

82°F

Swimming weather

Wave Height

2.6 ft

7s · SE swell

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 Sep 9, 11:59 AM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:50 AM

Sunset

7:27 PM

Moon · 5%

Waning Crescent

Spring tides — bigger range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
12:24 AM	Low	0.3 ft
6:18 AM	High	4.6 ft
12:31 PM	Low	0.1 ft
6:44 PM	High	5.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:12 AM	Low	0.1 ft
7:08 AM	High	5.0 ft
1:24 PM	Low	-0.0 ft
7:30 PM	High	5.2 ft

Time	Type	Height
1:57 AM	Low	0.0 ft
7:54 AM	High	5.2 ft
2:14 PM	Low	-0.0 ft
8:15 PM	High	5.1 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:40 AM	Low	0.0 ft
8:41 AM	High	5.3 ft
3:01 PM	Low	0.1 ft
9:00 PM	High	4.9 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:20 AM	Low	0.1 ft
9:29 AM	High	5.2 ft
3:46 PM	Low	0.3 ft
9:46 PM	High	4.6 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:59 AM	Low	0.3 ft
10:18 AM	High	5.1 ft
4:30 PM	Low	0.6 ft
10:34 PM	High	4.3 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:37 AM	Low	0.5 ft
11:08 AM	High	4.9 ft
5:15 PM	Low	0.9 ft
11:22 PM	High	4.0 ft

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

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Sep 9

82°

Sunny

Thu Sep 10

84°

Sunny

13%

Fri Sep 11

85°

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

24%

Sat Sep 12

84°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

55%

Sun Sep 13

84°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

51%

Mon Sep 14

85°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

28%

Tue Sep 15

84°

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

18%

What to Bring Today

critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 82°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.

Major

10:40 PM - 12:40 AM

Minor

4:50 AM - 5:50 AM

Major

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Minor

6:20 PM - 7:20 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.