Cape Hatteras water temperature by month

Swimmable from June through October.

Month by month

Month Typical Feels
January 59° brisk
February 59° brisk
March 62° brisk
April 64° brisk
May 69° refreshing
June 76° perfect
July 81° bath-warm
August 80° bath-warm
September 77° perfect
October 73° perfect
November 69° refreshing
December 63° brisk

The year at a glance

swimmable 50° 60° 70° 80° 90° 81° 59° JFMAMJJASOND January: typically 59° — brisk February: typically 59° — brisk March: typically 62° — brisk April: typically 64° — brisk May: typically 69° — refreshing June: typically 76° — perfect July: typically 81° — bath-warm August: typically 80° — bath-warm September: typically 77° — perfect October: typically 73° — perfect November: typically 69° — refreshing December: typically 63° — brisk

The water right now

Typically about 73° in October — perfect.

from an offshore buoy east of Cape Hatteras, about 14 miles away

perfect

bath-warm 80° and up perfect 72–79° refreshing 65–71° brisk below 65° 73° typical for October

The Gulf Stream swings closer to Hatteras than to anywhere else on the East Coast, which is why the water off Buxton can run warm one week and turn cold in a day of upwelling the next.

About this reading

The reading comes from an offshore buoy east of Cape Hatteras riding about 14 miles out; the surf zone usually reads close to it, though sun-warmed shallows can run warmer on calm afternoons.

Reading from an offshore buoy east of Cape Hatteras, about 14 miles away.

Warm water says nothing about surf, rip currents, or bacteria — check local lifeguard flags and advisories.