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Warmest 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.

Warmest in May

Sunset Beach

22.8°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 warmest North Carolina beaches in May

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

# 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
11 Oak Island North Carolina 22.6°C
12 Southport North Carolina 22.6°C
13 North Topsail Beach North Carolina 22.5°C
14 Ocean City Beach North Carolina 22.5°C
15 Atlantic Beach North Carolina 22.5°C
16 Beaufort North Carolina 22.5°C
17 Cape Lookout North Carolina 22.5°C
18 Harkers Island North Carolina 22.5°C
19 Morehead City North Carolina 22.5°C
20 Pamlico Sound North Carolina 22.4°C
21 Shallotte Inlet (Bowen Point), North Carolina North Carolina 22.4°C
22 Tubbs Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 22.4°C
23 Carolina Beach North Carolina 22.4°C
24 Masonboro North Carolina 22.4°C
25 Sea Breeze North Carolina 22.4°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Seagate North Carolina 22.4°C
27 Silver Lake North Carolina 22.4°C
28 Wilmington North Carolina 22.4°C
29 Wrightsville Beach North Carolina 22.4°C
30 Oriental North Carolina 22.3°C
31 Pamlico River North Carolina 22.3°C
32 Rose Bay North Carolina 22.3°C
33 Swanquarter North Carolina 22.3°C
34 Surf City North Carolina 22.3°C
35 Topsail Beach North Carolina 22.3°C
36 Kure Beach North Carolina 22.3°C
37 White Lake North Carolina 22.3°C
38 Broad Creek North Carolina 22.2°C
39 Emerald Isle North Carolina 22.2°C
40 Pine Knoll Shores North Carolina 22.2°C
41 Bald Head, Cape Fear River, North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
42 Fort Caswell, Cape Fear River, North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
43 Lockwoods Folly Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
44 Oak Island, Yaupon Beach North Carolina 22.2°C
45 Southport, Cape Fear River North Carolina 22.2°C
46 Cape Hatteras (fishing pier) North Carolina 22.2°C
47 Cape Hatteras, North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
48 Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
49 Hatteras (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 22.2°C
50 Hatteras (USCG Station) North Carolina 22.2°C

Coldest 10 in North Carolina in May

Same data the other way.

# Location May mean
1 Kill Devil Hills North Carolina 17.4°C
2 Kitty Hawk North Carolina 17.4°C
3 Southern Shores North Carolina 17.4°C
4 Corolla North Carolina 17.8°C
5 Currituck North Carolina 17.8°C
6 Outer Banks North Carolina 17.9°C
7 Rodanthe North Carolina 17.9°C
8 Salvo North Carolina 17.9°C
9 Waves North Carolina 17.9°C
10 Albemarle Sound North Carolina 18.0°C

Other US states

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