Editing Oak Island, North Carolina (section)

===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>