67°
Mostly Sunny
0%
68
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
Great day for a beach walk.
69°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 12 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 9 to 14 mph.
Weather
- 67°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 69°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 4.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
68 /100
good
53 Swim
68 Sunbathe
79 Walk
67 Fish
75 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.8 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.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
12 mph
N
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
66 Moderate
PM2.5 (fine particles) · New Hanover County
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
64°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Next Low Tide
11:58 PM
0.1 ft · in 5.4h
Wave Height
4.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.93 inHg
1014 hPa · buoy 41013
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
6:36 AM
Sunset
5:14 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:31 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 11:52 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 5:45 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 11:58 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:14 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 12:39 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:27 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:40 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:55 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 1:23 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:07 PM | High | 4.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:19 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 7:37 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 2:03 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:49 PM | High | 3.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:56 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:19 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 2:42 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 8:32 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:31 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 9:03 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 3:19 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 9:17 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:05 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 9:47 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 3:57 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 10:04 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8658163, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
64°
Sunny
0%
67
69°
Sunny
0%
74
69°
Sunny
0%
74
69°
Mostly Sunny
0%
74
68°
Mostly Sunny
8%
71
61°
Mostly Sunny
14%
58
What to Bring Today
Nothing unusual - conditions are unremarkable today.
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
9:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Minor
4:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Major
9:40 AM - 11:40 AM
Minor
3:40 PM - 4:40 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