Wrightsville Beach water temperature by month

Swimmable from May through October.

Month by month

Month Typical Feels
January 53° brisk
February 53° brisk
March 57° brisk
April 65° refreshing
May 72° perfect
June 77° perfect
July 82° bath-warm
August 82° bath-warm
September 79° perfect
October 73° perfect
November 65° refreshing
December 58° brisk

The year at a glance

swimmable 40° 50° 60° 70° 80° 90° 82° 53° JFMAMJJASOND January: typically 53° — brisk February: typically 53° — brisk March: typically 57° — brisk April: typically 65° — refreshing May: typically 72° — perfect June: typically 77° — perfect July: typically 82° — bath-warm August: typically 82° — bath-warm September: typically 79° — perfect October: typically 73° — perfect November: typically 65° — refreshing December: typically 58° — brisk

The water right now

Typically about 73° in October — perfect.

from a nearshore buoy off Wrightsville Beach, about 7 miles away

perfect

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

About this reading

The reading comes from a nearshore buoy off Wrightsville Beach, just off the coast.

Reading from a nearshore buoy off Wrightsville Beach, about 7 miles away.

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

Shark attacks

The International Shark Attack File lists 1 unprovoked bite in North Carolina in 2025 — rare enough events that the file investigates and counts them one at a time, worldwide.

What the record shows for Wrightsville Beach