Hurricanes

New research suggests that climate change will fuel more supercharged storms, bringing even bigger challenges to coastal and inland North Carolina. For over four decades, Coastwatch has documented the storms that have shaped our state.

From Portsmouth to Aurora
Bouncing Forward: New Resilience Programs for Coastal North Carolina
in the Summer 2023 issue
East Coast sea levels are rising much faster than during the 20^th century.

Out at Hatteras
With Cap’n Ernie Foster and Albatross I
in the Summer 2023 issue
“The Graveyard of the Atlantic” loosens tales of lost ships.

Climate Resilience
Natural Landscapes and Flood Mitigation in New Bern, NC
in the Summer 2023 issue
“Accelerated sea level rise will reshape flood hazards.”

Naturalist’s Notebook
Hurricanes, People, and Piping Plovers
in the Spring 2023 issue
A new study looked at the long-term mating habits of these birds before and after protective measures went into effect.

Cultivating Coastal Waters
North Carolina’s ShellCast App Goes Regional
in the Spring 2023 issue
A digital tool for North Carolina’s shellfish growers soon will forecast last-minute lease closures in Florida and South Carolina, too.

Vital Signs
The Hottest Ocean in Recorded History
in the Spring 2023 issue
NOAA and NASA track dramatic global changes.

Our Coast, Our Future:
The 2022 North Carolina Coastal Conference
videos, photos, resources
in the Winter 2022 issue
They came to Raleigh from across North Carolina, discussed urgent and emerging issues affecting our coast, forged new ties, and literally devoured new research for lunch — and you can watch it here.

Between a River and a Swamp:
All That Water Has to Go Somewhere
in the Winter 2022 issue
Project BRIDGE’s documentary shows how a transdisciplinary team built resilience in Robeson County through a North Carolina Sea Grant-supported initiative.

Climate Resilience:
NC’s State-of-the Art Warning System Strengthens Flood Planning
in the Autumn 2022 issue
NC’s new flood-warning system includes 400 river and stream gauges.

Troubled Waters:
Flooding, Contaminants, and Heightened Risks
in the Autumn 2022 issue
Underserved communities disproportionately experience the adverse effects of flooding and poor water quality. Why is this?

From Hurricane Hazel to the Morning Light:
Coastal Carolina Through a Shrimper’s Eyes
in the Summer 2022 issue
After using scrap metal to build his own boat, Harry Bryant escaped waterspouts and a lightning strike and earned a living on the open water for 32 years.

Five Years Later, Lessons Learned from Matthew
in the Winter 2021 issue
Torrential inland flooding from the 2016 hurricane was a wakeup call, sparking state investment in coordinated resilience efforts.

Hook, Line, & Science
Hurricane Noise, Live Weigh-Ins, and Wind Farms
in the Winter 2021 issue

People and Places
My Passion for Environmental Engineering
in the Winter 2021 issue
“It’s one thing to lose your home. It’s another thing to be uprooted and never be able to come back to the place you know, the place you love, the place you live, the place your ancestors lived.”

Model Behavior
in the Fall 2021 issue
Drawing on lifeguard expertise and artificial intelligence, researchers are improving rip current forecasting for beachgoers nationwide.

Digging Up a Stormy Past
in the Fall 2021 issue
Sediment samples hundreds of years old reveal how hurricanes and nor’easters affect the landward migration of salt marshes.

In the Wake of Storms
in the Spring 2021 issue
Even as our state’s capacity for seafood processing declines, wholesalers and distributors have built a network that rapidly deploys initial aid to coastal communities after hurricanes.

The Winding Path of Research
in the Winter 2020 issue
When nobody showed up for her study, Olivia Vilá changed course — and her work shed new light on environmental justice.

Plan, Respond, Recover, Adapt
in the Winter 2020 issue
North Carolina Sea Grant’s new coastal resilience specialist tells why resilience means much more than merely “bouncing back.”

NC Coastal Landscaping Designs
in the Autumn 2020 issue
Deciding which plants to use in your yard can be a challenging task — especially in harsh coastal environments.

If COVID-19 and a Major Hurricane Collide
in the Autumn 2020 issue
What would it mean for people living in our state’s most vulnerable communities?

Hatteras Island Students Tackle Coastal Change
in the Summer 2020 issue
Ninety-five percent of Hatteras Island students believe in climate change, and most plan to leave the island.

Inside the Greenhouse: North Carolina’s Hottest Year on Record
in the Summer 2020 issue
Will 2020 surpass last year’s unprecedented heat with even higher temperatures in North Carolina?

The Road to Resilience
in the Summer 2020 issue
A large transportation study on flooding in eastern North Carolina suggests that thoughtful planning and targeted route improvements are key.