The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat and rip current alert for Hyde County.

Strong rip currents will affect Ocracoke and Hatteras beaches today until 8 PM.

Residual swell energy from post-tropical cyclone Debby are impacting the beaches through late afternoon. Wave heights are between 3 and 4 feet with a long period swell of 8 to 9 seconds.

Also, an excessive heat watch is in effect for most of eastern North Carolina, including Outer Banks Hyde and Mainland Hyde. Dangerous heat index values of 105-115 are expected through the weekend and into Monday during the afternoons and early evenings.

The NWS includes the following precautionary measures to avoid heat-related illness:

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT
TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND
HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN
WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. WEAR LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING...
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY
IN THE SHADE IF POSSIBLE...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND
NEIGHBORS.

NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS
DRAWN WITH NO AVAILABLE AIR CONDITIONING. TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE
VEHICLE COULD QUICKLY REACH IN EXCESS OF 150 DEGREES WITHIN 15 TO
30 MINUTES OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN
POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT
STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE
AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR
WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR
CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED
TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL
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