Beachgoers may have noticed a stark difference between the color of the water near shore and farther out, with the shallow water being a hue of brown.
Why is this happening? Some people have speculated on social media its sand being churned by the waves and others guessed the water is shallow in the area.
The color change can be blamed on the recent storm that dumped rain on North Carolina, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Stephen Keebler.
Storm water from potential cyclone 8, which dropped more than 14 to 18 inches near Carolina Beach and areas inland on Sept. 16, has started to drain into the ocean, Keebler said. This flood water brings along dirt and other debris it picked up along the way and deposits it into the ocean.
Muddy waters have been seen off the coasts of the Carolinas from the Myrtle Beach area up to Wilmington, N.C., according to the National Weather Service.
Keebler cautioned swimmers that the water likely contains bacteria and pesticides from the various fields and other areas it traveled before landing in the ocean. Be careful when deciding to get in the water, he said.
The color should only last a few days before going back to normal.
