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Coldest beach in North Carolina in May

138 coastal locations in North Carolina ranked by their typical May sea temperature. State-wide average in May: 21.1°C.

Coldest in May

Kill Devil Hills

17.4°C

State May average

21.1°C

across 138 coastal locations in North Carolina

Vs annual mean

+1.5°C

above the year-round state average

What the North Carolina water feels like in May

Water at this temperature is very pleasant to swim in. If you tend to wear a wetsuit when swimming, you might consider removing it now to avoid the body overheating.

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 May fits in the year

May 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 May 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 May

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

# Location May mean
1 Atlantic Beach Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
2 Beaufort Inlet Channel Range, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
3 Beaufort, Taylor Creek, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
4 Cape Lookout Bight North Carolina 21.6°C
5 Channel Marker Lt. 59, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
6 Core Creek Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
7 Duke Marine Lab, Beaufort North Carolina 21.6°C
8 Fort Macon, USCG Station, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
9 Gallant Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
10 Coral Bay, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
11 Spooner Creek North Carolina 21.6°C
12 Cape Hatteras North Carolina 21.5°C
13 Frisco North Carolina 21.5°C
14 Hatteras Island North Carolina 21.5°C
15 Avon Seafood dock, Peter's Ditch, Avon North Carolina 21.0°C
16 Avon North Carolina 20.5°C
17 Buxton North Carolina 20.5°C
18 Davis Slough, North Carolina North Carolina 20.0°C
19 Manns Harbor, outer coast North Carolina 19.2°C
20 Rodanthe, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina North Carolina 19.1°C
21 Edenton North Carolina 18.9°C
22 Hertford North Carolina 18.9°C
23 FRF Pier, Duck North Carolina 18.0°C
24 Jennettes Pier, Nags Head (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
25 Kitty Hawk (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Old House Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
27 Oregon Inlet Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
28 Oregon Inlet Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
29 Oregon Inlet Marina, Pamlico Sound North Carolina 18.0°C
30 Oregon Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
31 Oregon Inlet (USCG Station) North Carolina 18.0°C
32 Oyster Creek, Croatan Sound North Carolina 18.0°C
33 Roanoke Marshes Light, outer coast North Carolina 18.0°C
34 Roanoke Sound Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 18.0°C
35 Albemarle Sound North Carolina 18.0°C
36 Croatan Sound North Carolina 18.0°C
37 Duck North Carolina 18.0°C
38 Manteo North Carolina 18.0°C
39 Nags Head North Carolina 18.0°C
40 Roanoke Island North Carolina 18.0°C
41 Wanchese North Carolina 18.0°C
42 Outer Banks North Carolina 17.9°C
43 Rodanthe North Carolina 17.9°C
44 Salvo North Carolina 17.9°C
45 Waves North Carolina 17.9°C
46 Corolla North Carolina 17.8°C
47 Currituck North Carolina 17.8°C
48 Kill Devil Hills North Carolina 17.4°C
49 Kitty Hawk North Carolina 17.4°C
50 Southern Shores North Carolina 17.4°C

Warmest 10 in North Carolina in May

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

# Location May mean
1 Sunset Beach North Carolina 22.8°C
2 Holden Beach North Carolina 22.7°C
3 Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina 22.7°C
4 Belhaven North Carolina 22.6°C
5 Cedar Island North Carolina 22.6°C
6 Columbia North Carolina 22.6°C
7 Little River Neck, north end, South Carolina North Carolina 22.6°C
8 Sunset Beach Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 22.6°C
9 Sunset Beach Pier North Carolina 22.6°C
10 Bald Head Island North Carolina 22.6°C

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