Oak Island, NC climate
Oak Island has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 37°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Oak Island feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Oak Island weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 37° | 3.6" | 40° – 53° |
| February | 60° | 39° | 3.3" | 41° – 58° |
| March | 65° | 44° | 3.8" | 48° – 62° |
| April | 73° | 53° | 3.2" | 58° – 67° |
| May | 80° | 62° | 4.0" | 66° – 76° |
| June | 86° | 70° | 4.8" | 74° – 82° |
| July | 89° | 74° | 6.4" | 78° – 84° |
| August | 87° | 72° | 7.0" | 77° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 68° | 7.8" | 73° – 80° |
| October | 76° | 57° | 4.8" | 62° – 71° |
| November | 67° | 46° | 3.5" | 51° – 62° |
| December | 60° | 40° | 3.7" | 39° – 61° |
| Year | 73° | 55° | 55.8" |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Oak Island
Oak Island gets 56 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and April the driest.
About 239 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 24 and the first one by November 17. That leaves about 239 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 88% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Oak Island
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Oak Island, 50% of that work is heating and 50% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Oak Island and its neighbors
Oak Island borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.0°. Boiling Spring Lakes has both the coldest January nights (35°) and the hottest July afternoons (90°). Oak Island’s January low is 37° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Oak Island compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Oak Island averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.8°). The shift is smaller than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Oak Island’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 39° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Oak Island’s climate
What is the coldest month in Oak Island?
January, with a typical high of 57° and a low of 37°.
What is the hottest month in Oak Island?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 74°. About 46 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Oak Island?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 17, and the last spring frost by March 24.
What is the rainiest month in Oak Island?
September, with 7.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 56 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Oak Island itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Southport 5 N, NC (8 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.