Topsail Guide 
Families heading to Topsail High School on Monday, August 25th should plan for a new morning car rider traffic flow designed to improve safety and reduce congestion along U.S. Highway 17. School officials shared a new traffic map showing the updated arrival and drop-off routes. Beginning tomorrow: All car riders must enter campus from Vista … Read more
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 — Morning Hurricane Erin makes its closest pass to Topsail Island today and while the storm’s core stays far offshore, the ocean will bring her largest impacts. We’re tracking tide timing, wind, and any surge-driven flooding issues that could pop near high tide — especially on the island’s north and south … Read more
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 — Morning update from the Topsail Guide Editorial Team. We’re actively monitoring Hurricane Erin this morning and pulling from the most reliable sources — NHC/NWS advisories and WECT’s weather coverage — to keep us all thinking practically. After 7+ years living in (and reporting for) Topsail, we know these systems can … Read more
This guide is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. In an emergency, call 911. On This Page Quick Contacts When To Go Where Care Near Topsail If You’re Visiting: What’s Best? For Locals: Back-To-School Readiness Seasonal & Common Issues In Topsail Respiratory Season & COVID County Health Departments Urgent Care: … Read more
With just one week before students return to Pender County schools, drivers through Hampstead are still feeling the squeeze of ongoing work on the $182 million Hampstead Bypass project. Lane shifts and overnight closures near Topsail High School and the Hampstead water tower have become routine, but as morning traffic ramps up for buses and … Read more
Latest Update (Tue, Aug 19): We’ve published a fresh briefing with today’s track and the next 24–48 hours for Topsail. Read today’s Hurricane Erin update → Hurricane Erin remains a large and powerful hurricane east of the Southeast Bahamas this morning. The latest National Hurricane Center advisory places the center near 23.1 N, 70.5 W … Read more
Latest Update (Tue, Aug 19): We’ve published a fresh briefing with today’s track and the next 24–48 hours for Topsail. Read today’s Hurricane Erin update → Hurricane Erin intensified overnight and is now a major hurricane over the open Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center reports Erin is moving W/NW- pushing northeast of the Leeward Islands … Read more
Storm Watch & Safety: Tropical Storm Erin is expected to graze north — not make landfall — but still generate strong southeasterly swells, rough surf, and dangerous rip currents into next week. Always check the National Hurricane Center, NWS Marine Forecast, and local advisories before heading out. Conditions can change fast; wear a life jacket, … Read more
Tropical Storm Erin is gaining strength and heading westward through the tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center forecasts it will become the first hurricane of the 2025 season as soon as tomorrow, with a strong possibility of reaching Category 3 major hurricane status by late Saturday. You can follow the official … Read more
Water That Smells, Stains, and Frustrates Residents across Pender County are still dealing with tap water that is discolored, foul-smelling, and damaging to appliances—issues that have lingered for years despite repeated reports to utility providers. In the Emerald Ridge neighborhood, one resident, Greg Lovell, described, “The water was brown and discolored all the time and … Read more