Editing Oak Island, North Carolina (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Osk Island Land Use Plan (2017).jpg|thumb|left|Oak Island Growth since 1999]] 
Oak Island is located in southeastern Brunswick County. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|51.6|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|48.0|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|3.6|km2|disp=flip}} (7.02%) is water. It is bordered to the south by the [[Atlantic Ocean]], to the east by [[Caswell Beach, North Carolina|Caswell Beach]], to the north across the ICW in part by the town of [[St. James, North Carolina|St. James]], and to the west by the town of [[Holden Beach, North Carolina|Holden Beach]] across the [[Lockwoods Folly River|Lockwood Folly Inlet]]. Additions to the town in the 20 years since it was formed in 1999, located on the mainland, consist of the following:<ref name="Oak Island Land Use Plan"/>

•Property on both sides of Long Beach Rd. (NC 133) to include the [[Cape Fear Regional Jetport]], and South Harbour Village with its nine-hole golf course and marina.<ref name="South Harbour">{{cite web|url= http://www.shvassociation.com/south-harbour-master-poa/ |title=South Harbour|website=SouthHarbourVillage.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

• Land mostly west of Middleton Blvd. (NC 906) either planned for or under development, the largest of which was the ill-fated Seawatch complex (1738 of the planned 4171 lots are in Oak Island).<ref name="Oak Island Expansion">{{cite web|url=http://www.southeastdiscovery.com/community/seawatch-at-sunset-harbor.php |title=Oak Island Expansion|website=Southeast Discovery.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

• Parcels north of Southport-Supply Rd. (NC 211), the most prominent being Midway Commons Shopping Center.<ref name="Midway Commons">{{cite web|url=http://capefearcommercial.catylist.com/listing/29939819/Highway-211-Bolivia-NC-28422 |title=Midway Commons|website=CapeFearCommercial.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Hurricane Hazel Historic Marker.png|thumb|Hurricane Hazel Marker]] 
Summers in the town are hot and humid with an average temperature of {{convert|85|F|C}}, although the beach front is cooled much of the time by sea breezes (the prevailing winds are from the southwest). Ocean water temperatures range from the 50s in winter to the mid 80s in summer. Winters are moderate with an average temperature in the 50s (°F), albeit with brief cold periods. Rain occurs throughout the year with average annual rainfall approximately {{convert|57|in|cm}}, 45% of this falling between June and September.<ref name="NOAA Weather Data">{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/2018ClimateSummary|title=NOAA Weather Data|website=Weather.gov|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://weatherspark.com/y/20118/Average-Weather-in-Oak-Island-North-Carolina-United-States-Year-Round#Figures-Summary Average Weather in Oak Island]</ref>

Tropical storms are a continuing source of concern with Hurricane Hazel being the most devastating. In the 1996−1999 period, four major hurricanes (Bertha, Fran, Bonnie, and Floyd) made landfall with [[Hurricane Floyd]] having significant effect on the town.<ref name="Barnes">{{cite book|last =Barnes|first=Jay|title=North Carolina's Hurricane History: Fourth Edition|publisher=UNC Press Books|year=2013|ISBN=978-1469606521}}</ref> More recently, in October 2016, the eye of [[Hurricane Matthew]] passed almost directly over the town inflicting extensive damage to the dune system,<ref name="Hurricane Matthew">{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Matthew|title=Hurricane Matthew|website=NWS.gov|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> and in September 2018, [[Hurricane Florence]] caused severe flooding and wind damage in addition to washing away large amounts of beach sand.<ref name="Hurricane Florence">{{cite web|url= https://www.weather.gov/ilm/HurricaneFlorence |title=Hurricane Florence|publisher=[[National Weather Service]]|access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>

In the early morning hours of August 4, 2020, [[Hurricane Isaias]] hit Oak Island as a Category 1 hurricane; the storm surge was around 9 feet, increased by a corresponding high tide. The fishing pier and its hotel, many businesses, and hundreds of homes were damaged, and in many places sand from shoreside dunes was pushed inland for three blocks. An estimated 75−100 vehicles were damaged; floating cars were a common sight at the height of the storm. Power was finally cut off as a safety precaution. In the succeeding weeks, a mandatory evacuation order and damage to rental properties prevented tourism, which is a major source of income for many residents.<ref name="Hurricane Isaias Damage">{{cite web|url=https://stateportpilot.com/news/article_db70bc8e-dcd1-11ea-bcfc-93e587b8a46a.html#:~:text=At%20least%20935%20homes%20were,Ocean%20Crest%20Pier%20and%20motel.&text=Homes%20damaged%20at%20least%2025,were%20pushed%20three%20blocks%20inland |title="Oak Island struggles with Recovery from Hurricane Isaias"|website=stateportpilot.com|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref>