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Warmest beach in North Carolina

138 coastal locations in North Carolina ranked by year-round average sea temperature. The state-wide average is 19.6°C. The peak month is August at 27.7°C. Click any beach for its 30-day chart and 10-year history.

Warmest year-round

Atlantic Beach

21.9°C annual mean

State-wide average

19.6°C

across 138 North Carolina coastal locations

Warmest month

August

27.7°C state-wide average

What the water feels like at peak in August

This water temperature is comparable to that of a swimming pool, but it might be higher than most open water swimmers prefer for serious swimming. Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after swimming and don't wear a wetsuit to avoid 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

Month by month around the North Carolina coast

North Carolina sea temperatures swing from 10.6°C in February to 27.7°C in August on average across the coast. That's a spread of 17°C. Pick a single month for a focused ranking:

North Carolina sea temperature map

Today's pin colours show the latest daily reading at every North Carolina beach we track. Drag and zoom; click any pin for that beach's full page.

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 beaches in North Carolina

Sorted by year-round average. Click any beach for its 30-day chart, monthly profile, and 10-year history.

# Location Annual mean
1 Atlantic Beach North Carolina 21.9°C
2 Beaufort North Carolina 21.9°C
3 Cape Lookout North Carolina 21.9°C
4 Harkers Island North Carolina 21.9°C
5 Morehead City North Carolina 21.9°C
6 Cape Hatteras (fishing pier) North Carolina 21.6°C
7 Cape Hatteras, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
8 Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
9 Hatteras (ocean), North Carolina North Carolina 21.6°C
10 Hatteras (USCG Station) North Carolina 21.6°C
11 North Topsail Beach North Carolina 21.5°C
12 Ocean City Beach North Carolina 21.5°C
13 Broad Creek North Carolina 21.3°C
14 Emerald Isle North Carolina 21.3°C
15 Pine Knoll Shores North Carolina 21.3°C
16 Cape Carteret North Carolina 21.0°C
17 Cedar Point North Carolina 21.0°C
18 Swansboro North Carolina 21.0°C
19 Bald Head Island North Carolina 20.9°C
20 Oak Island North Carolina 20.9°C
21 Southport North Carolina 20.9°C
22 Holden Beach North Carolina 20.8°C
23 Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina 20.8°C
24 Onslow Beach North Carolina 20.7°C
25 Pamlico Sound North Carolina 20.7°C
Show 25 more ▸
26 Sunset Beach North Carolina 20.7°C
27 Atlantic Beach Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
28 Beaufort Inlet Channel Range, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
29 Beaufort, Taylor Creek, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
30 Cape Lookout Bight North Carolina 20.6°C
31 Channel Marker Lt. 59, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
32 Core Creek Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
33 Duke Marine Lab, Beaufort North Carolina 20.6°C
34 Fort Macon, USCG Station, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
35 Gallant Channel, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
36 Harkers Island Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
37 Lenoxville Point, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
38 Morehead City Harbor, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
39 Morehead City, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
40 N.C. State Fisheries, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
41 Newport River (Yacht Club), North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
42 North River Bridge, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
43 Shell Point, Harkers Island, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
44 Surf City North Carolina 20.6°C
45 Topsail Beach North Carolina 20.6°C
46 Triple ESS Marina, Bogue Sd., North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
47 Triple S Marina, Bogue Sd., North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
48 Triple S Pier, Atlantic Beach North Carolina 20.6°C
49 New River Inlet, North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C
50 Ocean City Beach (fishing pier), North Carolina North Carolina 20.6°C

Coldest 10 in North Carolina

Same data, sorted the other way.

# Location Annual mean
1 Corolla North Carolina 16.7°C
2 Currituck North Carolina 16.7°C
3 Kill Devil Hills North Carolina 16.9°C
4 Kitty Hawk North Carolina 16.9°C
5 Southern Shores North Carolina 16.9°C
6 Albemarle Sound North Carolina 17.0°C
7 Croatan Sound North Carolina 17.0°C
8 Duck North Carolina 17.0°C
9 Manteo North Carolina 17.0°C
10 Nags Head North Carolina 17.0°C

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