OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) – As October rolls over into November, fewer and fewer people are visiting beaches in southeastern NC as temperatures begin to trend cooler.

As a result, the National Weather Service ended its daily beach warning flag forecasts on Thursday, Oct. 31. Additionally, the Town of Oak Island announced that it is removing some of its beach safety and rescue devices.

According to the release, on Friday the town will work to remove the rescue tubes, beach warning flags and beach warning lights. Additionally, the town will no longer update its warning flag graphics.

These devices and services will resume on April 1, or in the case of an isolated extreme weather event during the offseason.

“The Town of Oak Island wishes to thank all of the partner agencies, community organizations, local businesses, and concerned residents and property owners who contributed to this year’s beach safety efforts by flying Beach Warning Flags and sharing Beach Safety information. This heightened level of community involvement contributed to another successful season,” the town states.

Between July and October, rescue crews on Oak Island performed 17 ocean rescues and responded to 14 EMS incidents on the beach. The full report on the 2024 season can be found online here.

Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.