North Carolina water temperature today
Across 13 reporting buoys, the water ranges from 70°F at Duck FRF, NC to 83°F at South Hatteras.
Latest readings from the 13 NOAA buoys off North Carolina: water temperature, wind and waves. Sorted with the long-running offshore buoys first.
| Buoy | Water | Wind | Waves | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South HatterasNDBC 41002 · 34.20°N 74.93°W | 83°F 28°C | E 2 kt | 3 ft @ 11s | Oct 3, 16:50 UTC |
| Frying Pan Shoals, NCNDBC 41013 · 33.44°N 77.76°W | 78°F 26°C | NNW 27 kt | – | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
| Diamond Shoals, NCNDBC 41025 · 35.03°N 75.38°W | 81°F 27°C | N 25 kt | – | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
| Duck FRF, NCNDBC 44056 · 36.20°N 75.71°W | 70°F 21°C | – | 10 ft @ 7s | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
| Wrightsville Beach Offshore, NC (ILM3)NDBC 41037 · 33.99°N 77.36°W | 79°F 26°C | SW 12 kt | – | Oct 10, 22:08 UTC |
| Wrightsville Beach Nearshore, NC (ILM2)NDBC 41038 · 34.14°N 77.72°W | 76°F 24°C | NNW 23 kt | – | Oct 17, 16:08 UTC |
| Onslow Bay Outer, NC (LEJ3)NDBC 41064 · 34.21°N 76.95°W | 78°F 25°C | N 25 kt | – | Oct 17, 16:08 UTC |
| Masonboro Inlet, ILM2, NCNDBC 41110 · 34.14°N 77.72°W | 76°F 24°C | – | 4 ft @ 5s | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
| Cape Hatteras East, NCNDBC 41120 · 35.26°N 75.28°W | 80°F 27°C | – | 8 ft @ 6s | Oct 17, 15:56 UTC |
| Onslow Bay Outer, NCNDBC 41159 · 34.21°N 76.94°W | 78°F 25°C | – | 5 ft @ 5s | Oct 17, 15:56 UTC |
| Nags Head, NCNDBC 44086 · 36.00°N 75.42°W | 71°F 22°C | – | 10 ft @ 6s | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
| Oregon Inlet, NCNDBC 44095 · 35.75°N 75.33°W | 71°F 22°C | – | 10 ft @ 7s | Oct 17, 16:26 UTC |
| Duck FRF 26m, NCNDBC 44100 · 36.26°N 75.59°W | 70°F 21°C | – | 10 ft @ 7s | Oct 17, 16:30 UTC |
See where the warm and cold water actually sits between these buoys, and where the temperature breaks and color changes are, on the satellite chart for North Carolina.
FAQ
Where does this water temperature come from?
From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). Each buoy measures the water temperature near the surface, usually about a meter down, and reports roughly every hour. We pull the latest reading for every buoy off North Carolina.
How often does this page update?
Every time you load it. Readings come straight from NOAA and are at most about 30 minutes behind what NOAA has published.
Why is the buoy temperature different from the satellite chart?
A buoy measures one spot a meter or so below the surface. A satellite measures the skin of the water over a wide area. On calm, sunny afternoons the skin can read warmer than the water below it. More in our guide to ground-truthing SST with buoys.
Related: How to use buoy data to ground-truth satellite SST · Ideal water temperatures for pelagic fish