Wilmington, NC Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Wilmington
Wilmington records 141 wet days and 9.5 hours of daily sunshine in an average year. Temperatures follow a humid subtropical pattern, running 56°F (13°C) in January up to 87°F (30°C) in July.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 87°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 56°F (13°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 99°F (37°C) high · 15°F (-10°C) low
- Wettest month: September (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.8 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 18°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 76%
Temperatures through the year
Sunshine averages 9.5 hours a day over the year, peaking in June at 11.8 hours. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 87°F (30°C) by day and 75°F (24°C) overnight. January sits at the other end of the year: 56°F (13°C) by day, 40°F (5°C) at night. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of.
Rain, sun and snow
September is the wettest month at 8.3 inches (212 mm) over 13 days; October is the driest. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 99°F (37°C) and bottoms at 15°F (-10°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Wilmington compares
- Wilmington sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 65°F (18°C) as an annual average, 58.6 inches (1489 mm) of precipitation and 9.5 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 40° | 10 | 3.9 in | 7.4 h/day | 73% |
| February | 60° | 44° | 9 | 4.0 in | 7.8 h/day | 74% |
| March | 65° | 49° | 10 | 3.4 in | 8.8 h/day | 72% |
| April | 71° | 56° | 9 | 3.6 in | 10.7 h/day | 71% |
| May | 79° | 64° | 12 | 4.8 in | 11.4 h/day | 75% |
| June | 84° | 71° | 15 | 5.1 in | 11.8 h/day | 78% |
| July | 87° | 75° | 19 | 5.9 in | 11.4 h/day | 81% |
| August | 85° | 74° | 19 | 7.4 in | 10.4 h/day | 83% |
| September | 82° | 70° | 13 | 8.3 in | 9.8 h/day | 81% |
| October | 75° | 60° | 7 | 3.2 in | 9.2 h/day | 76% |
| November | 66° | 50° | 8 | 4.2 in | 8.2 h/day | 75% |
| December | 60° | 45° | 10 | 4.7 in | 7.1 h/day | 77% |
Wilmington month by month
Wilmington weather in January
January brings highs around 56°F (13°C), lows near 40°F (5°C), about 10 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Wilmington.
Wilmington weather in February
February brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 44°F (7°C), about 9 wet days.
Wilmington weather in March
March brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 10 wet days.
Wilmington weather in April
April brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 9 wet days.
Wilmington weather in May
May brings highs around 79°F (26°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 12 wet days.
Wilmington weather in June
June brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 71°F (22°C), about 15 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Wilmington.
Wilmington weather in July
July brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 75°F (24°C), about 19 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Wilmington.
Wilmington weather in August
August brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 74°F (23°C), about 19 wet days.
Wilmington weather in September
September brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 70°F (21°C), about 13 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Wilmington.
Wilmington weather in October
October brings highs around 75°F (24°C), lows near 60°F (16°C), about 7 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Wilmington.
Wilmington weather in November
November brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 8 wet days.
Wilmington weather in December
December brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 45°F (7°C), about 10 wet days.
Seasons in Wilmington
Spring (March through May)
Spring settles into easy warmth here - highs near 72°F (22°C), nights near 56°F (13°C), and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings hot afternoons here - highs near 85°F (30°C), nights near 73°F (23°C), and rain falls on around 53 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.2 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Wilmington is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 74°F (23°C) and nights around 60°F (16°C); expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Wilmington is crisp but comfortable, with daytime highs averaging 59°F (15°C) and nights around 43°F (6°C); expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season.
Climate questions, answered
What should I pack for Wilmington?
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How warm is Wilmington on average?
Best time to visit Wilmington
Aim for February to May and October to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 69°F (21°C) against roughly 9 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in February.
Pack for Wilmington with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. July nights average 75°F (24°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Wilmington temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.