Officials warn of strong surf, continued fire danger in Hilton Head Island area
Update: The high surf advisory for South Carolina and Georgia ended at 11 a.m. Sunday. Lifeguards continued to fly yellow flags on Hilton Head Island beaches as waves reached about 3.8 feet high.
Hilton Head Island beaches were under a yellow flag warning for potentially dangerous swimming conditions Sunday morning as a statewide burning ban continued.
Beaches in coastal South Carolina and Georgia could see breaking waves of up to 5 to 6 feet, according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston office, which recommended inexperienced swimmers stay out of the water due to “dangerous surf conditions.”
The high surf advisory is scheduled to end at 11 a.m. Sunday. As of 10 a.m., waves extended up to 3.9 feet, about chest to shoulder height, safebeachday.com data for Hilton Head shows.
South Carolina’s burning ban remained active after it was triggered Friday afternoon by dry fuels, gusty winds and dangerously low relative humidities, according to the S.C. Forestry Commission.
Although wind gusts could still reach up to 20 mph on Sunday, according to the NWS, minimum relative humidity values are expected to exceed 40%. Those levels will be higher near the shoreline, meteorologists say.
Until the forestry commission ends its red flag alert, all outdoor fires — including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires and bonfires — are prohibited in all 46 counties.
Beaufort County’s high temperature is 68 on Sunday. Forecasts predict sunny conditions with possible wind gusts up to 24 mph, according to the NWS. Winds are expected to calm to about 6 mph in the evening.
This story was originally published March 29, 2026 at 9:56 AM.
