86°
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
35
New Hanover County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Kure Beach
Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449
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.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · 82°F water · 86°F air
Full NWS forecast for Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. East wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Weather
- 86°F air — ideal beach weather
- 39% rain — pop-up showers possible
Water
- 82°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
33 /100
skip
25 Swim
52 Sunbathe
20 Walk
36 Fish
31 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Atmosphere
Air Temp
86°F
Clear
Wind
9 mph
SW
Rain
39%
Today
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 12 PM–03 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
82°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
6:23 PM
5.3 ft · in 3.2h
Barometer
30.09 inHg
1019 hPa
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
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:09 AM
Sunset
8:24 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:07 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 5:46 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 11:53 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 6:23 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:05 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 6:44 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 12:52 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 7:16 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:59 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 7:39 AM | High | 4.1 ft |
| 1:50 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 8:08 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:50 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 8:33 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 2:46 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 9:00 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:37 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 9:29 AM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 3:38 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 9:53 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:23 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 10:25 AM | High | 4.4 ft |
| 4:29 PM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 10:46 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:09 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:20 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 5:23 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 11:38 PM | High | 4.5 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8658163, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
83°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
49%
32
84°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
62%
24
85°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
18%
48
86°
Sunny
4%
81
86°
Sunny
12%
80
85°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
23%
41
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 82°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 39% rain chance
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
10:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Minor
3:30 AM - 4:30 AM
Major
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minor
6:50 PM - 7:50 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
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.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS