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Warmest beach in North Carolina in January

138 coastal locations in North Carolina ranked by their typical January sea temperature. State-wide average in January: 11.8°C.

Warmest in January

Cape Hatteras (fishing pier)

16.2°C

State January average

11.8°C

across 138 coastal locations in North Carolina

Vs annual mean

-7.8°C

below the year-round state average

What the North Carolina water feels like in January

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 January fits in the year

January 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 January 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 warmest North Carolina beaches in January

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

# Location January mean
1 Cape Hatteras (fishing pier) North Carolina 16.2°C
2 Cape Hatteras, North Carolina North Carolina 16.2°C
3 Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 16.2°C
4 Hatteras (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 16.2°C
5 Hatteras (USCG Station) North Carolina 16.2°C
6 Atlantic Beach North Carolina 16.1°C
7 Beaufort North Carolina 16.1°C
8 Cape Lookout North Carolina 16.1°C
9 Harkers Island North Carolina 16.1°C
10 Morehead City North Carolina 16.1°C
11 North Topsail Beach North Carolina 15.0°C
12 Ocean City Beach North Carolina 15.0°C
13 Broad Creek North Carolina 14.8°C
14 Emerald Isle North Carolina 14.8°C
15 Pine Knoll Shores North Carolina 14.8°C
16 Pamlico Sound North Carolina 14.3°C
17 Cape Carteret North Carolina 14.0°C
18 Cedar Point North Carolina 14.0°C
19 Swansboro North Carolina 14.0°C
20 Atlantic Beach Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
21 Beaufort Inlet Channel Range, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
22 Beaufort, Taylor Creek, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
23 Cape Lookout Bight North Carolina 14.0°C
24 Channel Marker Lt. 59, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
25 Core Creek Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Duke Marine Lab, Beaufort North Carolina 14.0°C
27 Fort Macon, USCG Station, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
28 Gallant Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
29 Harkers Island Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
30 Lenoxville Point, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
31 Morehead City Harbor, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
32 Morehead City, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
33 N.C. State Fisheries, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
34 Newport River (Yacht Club), North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
35 North River Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
36 Shell Point, Harkers Island, North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
37 Triple ESS Marina, Bogue Sd., North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
38 Triple S Marina, Bogue Sd., North Carolina North Carolina 14.0°C
39 Triple S Pier, Atlantic Beach North Carolina 14.0°C
40 Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island North Carolina 13.7°C
41 Onslow Beach North Carolina 13.5°C
42 New River Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 13.3°C
43 Ocean City Beach (fishing pier), North Carolina North Carolina 13.3°C
44 Bald Head Island North Carolina 13.1°C
45 Oak Island North Carolina 13.1°C
46 Southport North Carolina 13.1°C
47 Surf City North Carolina 12.9°C
48 Topsail Beach North Carolina 12.9°C
49 Holden Beach North Carolina 12.9°C
50 Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina 12.9°C

Coldest 10 in North Carolina in January

Same data the other way.

# Location January mean
1 Edenton North Carolina 7.5°C
2 Hertford North Carolina 7.5°C
3 Corolla North Carolina 7.7°C
4 Currituck North Carolina 7.7°C
5 Manns Harbor, outer coast North Carolina 7.8°C
6 Albemarle Sound North Carolina 8.2°C
7 Croatan Sound North Carolina 8.2°C
8 Duck North Carolina 8.2°C
9 Manteo North Carolina 8.2°C
10 Nags Head North Carolina 8.2°C

Other US states

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