Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Wilmington, North Carolina Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Wilmington weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Wilmington, NC
Saturday, July 4 at 9:06 PM
82
°
Clear
Feels like
89°
Humidity
77%
Wind
8 mph
Sunrise
2:04 AM
Sunset
4:27 PM
Wilmington, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastWilmington, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 74 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 74°H 92°
Wilmington, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    94°71°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    92°74°-2°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    33%
    —
    99°79°+7°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Showers
    47%
    0.15″
    101°73°+2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Thunderstorm
    48%
    —
    97°76°-4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    27%
    —
    101°77°+4°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    18%
    —
    103°82°+2°
Wilmington, NC
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°70°83°96°6p12a6a12pnow 82°high 92°low 74°
Wilmington, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
S
185° · steady
Direction
S
185°
Sustained
8
mph
Gust
16
mph
Peak 24h
16
avg 7
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 16 @ 12:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 2112SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze holding from the s.
Wilmington, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1013.2
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 29.92 inHg
Now
1013.2
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
-3.2
mb
24h
-2.7
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1013–1017
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1016.61012.51013.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
Wilmington, NC
Air quality
37
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h

AQI 37 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 6.9 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.6 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
6.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneGood
54μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 6.9 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.6 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.72
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Wilmington, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
3%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
38.7mi
UNLIMITED
70 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
01:06 UTC · Wilmington, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
01:06 UTC · Wilmington, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Wilmington, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Wilmington, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Wilmington, NC
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:36 AM
Sunrise
2:04 AM
Daylight
14h 23m
Sunset
4:27 PM
Civil dusk
8:57 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Wilmington, NC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
77% illuminated
Moonrise
11:25 PM
Moonset
11:23 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Wilmington, NC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Wilmington at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 12 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 28401, 28403, 28405, 28409, 28411, 28412

16-Day Forecast — Wilmington

  1. Sat94°71°0%
  2. Sun92°74°2%
  3. Mon99°79°33%
  4. Tue101°73°47%
  5. Wed97°76°48%
  6. Thu101°77°27%
  7. Fri103°82°18%
  8. Sat101°81°26%
  9. Sun97°72°44%
  10. Mon85°70°32%
  11. Tue84°71°20%
  12. Wed96°70°50%
  13. Thu99°78°49%
  14. Fri95°75°47%
  15. Sat96°75°56%
  16. Sun98°75°77%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Wilmington

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Wilmington

SPC includes Wilmington in the general thunderstorm area tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

July is Wilmington's warmest stretch (~82°F) and January its coldest (~47°F); precipitation crests in September at 8.7 inches and ebbs in April to 3.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January47°3.8″6
February49°3.5″6
March55°4.0″6
April64°3.1″5
May71°4.5″6
June78°5.7″7
July82°6.9″9
August80°8.2″10
September75°8.7″7
October66°4.7″5
November56°3.6″5
December50°3.7″6

Regional context

Wilmington swings from 47°F in January to 82°F in July (35°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Wilmington runs about 60.1 inches on roughly 79 measurable days.

Summer convection drives Wilmington's precipitation: September logs 8.7 inches on 7.0 rainy days, against April's 3.1 inches on 4.7 — warm-season storms carry Wilmington's moisture. That summer-storm rhythm groups Wilmington with places like Kings Grant, NC, Hightsville, NC and Silver Lake, NC.

Hard freezes are rare in Wilmington: the coldest month averages 47°F, so Wilmington's growing window runs most of the year. July is the hottest stretch near 82°F, pushing cool-season crops to the milder shoulder months. Wilmington's coastal lots stay 4-7°F milder overnight than Wilmington's inland parcels.

Similar climates: Kings Grant, NC, Hightsville, NC, Silver Lake, NC, Wrightsville Beach, NC, Wrightsboro, NC.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the synchronized emergence of Brood XIII cicadas across North Carolina's coastal plain.

Red-winged blackbirds establish territories in Wilmington's marshlands during March, their distinctive calls marking the transition from winter to spring.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Wilmington?
Frost typically leaves Wilmington by mid-March and returns to Wilmington near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Wilmington?
September is the wettest month in Wilmington, about 8.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 60 inches.
What is the warmest month in Wilmington?
Wilmington peaks in July, when the mean runs near 82°F.
What is the coldest month in Wilmington?
January is Wilmington's coldest month, averaging about 47°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Wilmington?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-March in Wilmington; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Wilmington get?
Wilmington averages about 79 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Wilmington?
Because Wilmington bottoms near 47°F in January, that winter low sets Wilmington's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Wilmington?
Wilmington's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Wilmington?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Wilmington in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Wilmington?
Current conditions for Wilmington and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Wilmington forecast updated?
The Wilmington forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Wilmington?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Wilmington are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Wilmington?
The next few days in Wilmington's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a humid subtropical zone, Wilmington, North Carolina swings from 47°F in the heart of winter to 82°F at midsummer — a 35°F arc.

Yearly precipitation in Wilmington totals around 60 inches, spread over about 79 days of rain or snow.

Wilmington's 35°F range, set by its 34.2°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Wilmington.

All cities in North Carolina →

Charlotte, NC weather →

ZIP codes in Wilmington

  • 28409
  • 28401
  • 28403
  • 28405
  • 28412
  • 28402
  • 28406
  • 28408

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.