Quick answer

Three storm events stand out around here lately.

Tropical Storm Debby (Aug. 5 to 9, 2024) dropped 15.75 inches of rain on Leland, and Wilmington's airport saw a 51 mph gust, according to the National Weather Service. Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (Sept. 15 to 16, 2024) put 12 to 20 inches of rain on a stripe running from Carolina Beach and Southport up through Bolivia. NWS measured 20.81 inches on Carolina Beach's Ocean Blvd and 16.61 inches on Oak Island. Then in October 2026, the remnant of Hurricane Isaias put our area under a flood watch and a coastal flood advisory. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 (NOAA).

NWS Wilmington event page

Tropical Storm Debby: Aug. 5 to 9, 2024

NWS says the biggest problem across southeastern NC and northeastern SC was flash and river flooding from heavy rain. There were also tropical-storm-force gusts, minor coastal flooding and three weak tornadoes, one of them an EF-0 in Brunswick County.

  • Rain (8 AM Aug. 5 to 8 AM Aug. 9): Leland 15.75 in. · Shallotte Fire Station 15.27 in. · Wilmington 2 WSW 13.80 in. · Calabash 13.62 in. · Holden Beach 1 W 13.46 in. · Carolina Shores 1.8 NE 13.11 in.
  • Peak gusts: Wilmington airport (KILM) 51 mph · Oak Island 44 mph · Lockwoods Folly Inlet 44 mph · Johnnie Mercer's Pier, Wrightsville Beach 45 mph.
  • NWS reported several rounds of minor tidal flooding along the Cape Fear River around Wilmington.

NWS Wilmington event page

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight: Sept. 15 to 16, 2024

It never got a name, but NWS says its winds, heavy rain and flash flooding were a lot like past tropical storms and hurricanes.

Most of the rain came in about 12 hours on Monday, Sept. 16. NWS estimates that more than 12 inches in 12 hours happens about once every 200 years, on average, in coastal southeastern NC.

  • Rain: Carolina Beach Ocean Blvd 20.81 in. · Southport 6.9 W 19.13 in. · St. James Harborwalk 18.65 in. · Bolivia 7.6 SW 17.85 in. · Oak Island (Long Beach) 16.61 in. · Boiling Spring Lakes 16.34 in.
  • Peak gusts: Sunny Point 77 mph · Johnnie Mercer's Pier 67 mph · Bald Head Island 60 mph · Wilmington Airport 59 mph · Southport (Cape Fear River Pilots) 57 mph.
  • NWS listed road closures and washouts, including NC 211 near Southport, and "scattered reports of wind damage... mostly to trees and power lines."

Watches and advisories only

Remnants of Hurricane Isaias: Oct. 9 to 12, 2026

We're only listing the official watches and advisories here. As of Oct. 20, 2026, we haven't found an NWS event summary, so we're not saying anything about local damage.

  • Oct. 9: NWS Wilmington issued a flood watch for inland and coastal Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties through Sunday morning (Port City Daily).
  • Oct. 11: NWS Wilmington issued a coastal flood advisory for coastal Brunswick County, covering low-lying areas along the Intracoastal Waterway and tidal creeks (WGNI, reposting the NWS advisory).

Free roof inspection

If you live in Brunswick or New Hanover County

  1. Look things over safely, from the ground and from inside. Our after-storm roof check guide walks you through it.
  2. Write down the date you first saw a stain or drip.
  3. Ask us for a free roof inspection. It comes with photos and notes. See Roof Inspection, plus our pages for Carolina Beach, Oak Island and Wilmington.
  4. If part of the roof is open, we can tarp it when needed. For repairs, see our leak and storm repair page.

Call 910.228.8034 or use the contact form to ask for a free roof inspection in Brunswick or New Hanover County.

Context outside the two counties

Regional background: NC and SC

For context on where Debby went (NWS Wilmington, NC event page):

  • Debby came ashore in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 1 hurricane on Aug. 5, then made a second landfall on the central South Carolina coast early on Aug. 8.
  • NWS also recorded 15.61 inches in Little River, SC, and a 48 mph gust at North Myrtle Beach, SC.

Related reading

What long, heavy rain means for a roof

For more, see our post on roof leaks during heavy rain.

Flashing around a roof vent pipe with shingles in place
Roof vent repair in Southport.

FAQs

Common questions about recent storms here.

What storms hit Brunswick and New Hanover counties recently?

Tropical Storm Debby (Aug. 5 to 9, 2024) and Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (Sept. 15 to 16, 2024) both brought heavy rain, per NWS Wilmington: up to 15.75 inches in Leland from Debby and 20.81 inches at Carolina Beach from PTC Eight. In October 2026, the Isaias remnants brought a flood watch and a coastal flood advisory.

How much rain did Carolina Beach get in September 2024?

NWS recorded 20.81 inches at Carolina Beach Ocean Blvd during PTC Eight.

How much rain did Leland get from Debby?

NWS recorded 15.75 inches in Leland from Aug. 5 to 9, 2024.

Is hurricane season over?

Not until the end of November. NOAA's Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30.

Does Vera's Roofing work in South Carolina?

No. Vera's Roofing serves Brunswick and New Hanover counties in North Carolina.

Sourced records

Sources