Lifeguards reported dozens of rip current rescues at North Carolina beaches on the 4th of July. By 3 p.m. Wednesday, Carolina Beach lifeguards reported 24 rescues. Around 20 rescues took place during the same time at Wrightsville Beach.

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Much of the North Carolina coast will see a similar threat for rip currents again Thursday. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore.

If you become caught in a rip current, lifeguards suggest you stay calm and yell for help. To break free from the rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Once out of the rip current, then swim back toward shore at an angle.

A disorganized tropical disturbance located between the Carolina coast and Bermuda will likely keep an enhanced risk for rip currents along our coast into the weekend. That should be its only impact in the Carolinas as the disturbance is forecast to stay off shore.

Typical summer weather is expected through the rest of the week. Spotty showers and a few storms are possible Thursday. Otherwise, it will be a partly cloudy day with highs in the mid to upper 80s at our beaches to near 90 inland.

The chance for showers and storms will be higher late Friday night into Saturday as a cold front moves into the state. That will bring highs down to the low and mid 80s for the weekend.