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Coldest beach in North Carolina in December

138 coastal locations in North Carolina ranked by their typical December sea temperature. State-wide average in December: 14.0°C.

Coldest in December

Belhaven

9.6°C

State December average

14.0°C

across 138 coastal locations in North Carolina

Vs annual mean

-5.6°C

below the year-round state average

What the North Carolina water feels like in December

Water at this temperature is cold and will feel very cold initially, but the body will get used to it and longer swims are possible. Experienced swimmers can manage several hours of swimming, however hypothermia is still a real risk.

North Carolina monthly average 10.6°C to 27.7°C
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  • Warmest month August 27.7°C
  • Coldest month February 10.6°C
  • Annual mean 19.6°C
  • Months above 20°C 6 of 12

Where December fits in the year

December sits inside the state pattern shown on the left. Browse a different month for a fresh ranking.

North Carolina sea temperature map (live)

Today's reading at every North Carolina beach we track. The list below uses the typical December mean from a decade of daily history.

Zoom in to see individual locations. Click a pin for water temperatures. View list →
°C -2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 27 30 35

Top 50 coldest North Carolina beaches in December

Sorted by typical December mean. Click any beach for the full location page.

# Location December mean
1 Little River Neck, north end, South Carolina North Carolina 13.5°C
2 Shallotte Inlet (Bowen Point), North Carolina North Carolina 13.5°C
3 Tubbs Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 13.5°C
4 Rodanthe, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina North Carolina 13.4°C
5 Avon Seafood dock, Peter's Ditch, Avon North Carolina 13.3°C
6 Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 13.2°C
7 Outer Banks North Carolina 12.9°C
8 Rodanthe North Carolina 12.9°C
9 Salvo North Carolina 12.9°C
10 Waves North Carolina 12.9°C
11 Ocracoke North Carolina 11.8°C
12 Kill Devil Hills North Carolina 11.8°C
13 Kitty Hawk North Carolina 11.8°C
14 Southern Shores North Carolina 11.8°C
15 Avon North Carolina 11.7°C
16 Buxton North Carolina 11.7°C
17 Davis Slough, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
18 FRF Pier, Duck North Carolina 11.4°C
19 Jennettes Pier, Nags Head (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
20 Kitty Hawk (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
21 Old House Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
22 Oregon Inlet Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
23 Oregon Inlet Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
24 Oregon Inlet Marina, Pamlico Sound North Carolina 11.4°C
25 Oregon Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Oregon Inlet (USCG Station) North Carolina 11.4°C
27 Oyster Creek, Croatan Sound North Carolina 11.4°C
28 Roanoke Marshes Light, outer coast North Carolina 11.4°C
29 Roanoke Sound Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 11.4°C
30 Albemarle Sound North Carolina 11.4°C
31 Croatan Sound North Carolina 11.4°C
32 Duck North Carolina 11.4°C
33 Manteo North Carolina 11.4°C
34 Nags Head North Carolina 11.4°C
35 Roanoke Island North Carolina 11.4°C
36 Wanchese North Carolina 11.4°C
37 Corolla North Carolina 10.8°C
38 Currituck North Carolina 10.8°C
39 Davis, Core Sound North Carolina 10.8°C
40 Sea Level, Core Sound North Carolina 10.8°C
41 Oriental North Carolina 10.8°C
42 Pamlico River North Carolina 10.8°C
43 Rose Bay North Carolina 10.8°C
44 Swanquarter North Carolina 10.8°C
45 Edenton North Carolina 10.5°C
46 Hertford North Carolina 10.5°C
47 Manns Harbor, outer coast North Carolina 10.4°C
48 Belhaven North Carolina 9.6°C
49 Cedar Island North Carolina 9.6°C
50 Columbia North Carolina 9.6°C

Warmest 10 in North Carolina in December

Same data flipped. The warmest spots in the state for this month.

# Location December mean
1 Atlantic Beach North Carolina 18.2°C
2 Beaufort North Carolina 18.2°C
3 Cape Lookout North Carolina 18.2°C
4 Harkers Island North Carolina 18.2°C
5 Morehead City North Carolina 18.2°C
6 Cape Hatteras (fishing pier) North Carolina 17.9°C
7 Cape Hatteras, North Carolina North Carolina 17.9°C
8 Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 17.9°C
9 Hatteras (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 17.9°C
10 Hatteras (USCG Station) North Carolina 17.9°C

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