The best times to visit Sunset Beach for ideal weather are

March 19th to June 3rd

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Sunset Beach Travel Info

Weather in Sunset Beach

Temperature

Average temperatures in Sunset Beach vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice some of the year, but often too hot in the summer and cold in the winter with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 25th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Sunset Beach, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid August where highs are regularly around 88.5°F (31.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 74.1°F (23.4°C) at night.

Sunset Beach Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Sunset Beach Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Sunset Beach Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Sunset Beach Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Sunset Beach Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 56.7 46.2 37.2
Feb 58 47.5 38.2
Mar 65 54.7 45.1
Apr 72.7 63.4 53.9
May 79.5 71.3 62.7
Jun 86.3 78.8 71
Jul 87.9 80.6 73.5
Aug 87.1 80 72.8
Sep 84.3 75.6 67.7
Oct 76.6 65.8 56.4
Nov 66.9 55.2 44.7
Dec 62.1 51.4 42.1

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 13.7 7.9 2.9
Feb 14.4 8.6 3.4
Mar 18.3 12.6 7.3
Apr 22.6 17.4 12.2
May 26.4 21.8 17.1
Jun 30.2 26 21.7
Jul 31.1 27 23.1
Aug 30.6 26.7 22.7
Sep 29.1 24.2 19.8
Oct 24.8 18.8 13.6
Nov 19.4 12.9 7.1
Dec 16.7 10.8 5.6

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Sunset Beach are November, May, and then January. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid to late November. For example, on the week of November 19th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late March with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of March 26th.

When can you find snow in Sunset Beach? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Sunset Beach.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Sunset Beach (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 18% 0 2.5
Feb 22% 0 3.2
Mar 21% 0 3.3
Apr 21% 0 2.7
May 16% 0 3.5
Jun 19% 0 4
Jul 24% 0 5.8
Aug 28% 0 6
Sep 18% 0 4.6
Oct 18% 0 4.6
Nov 16% 0 3.4
Dec 20% 0 3.3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 18 0 6.4
Feb 22 0 8.1
Mar 21 0 8.4
Apr 21 0 6.9
May 16 0 8.9
Jun 19 0 10.2
Jul 24 0 14.7
Aug 28 0 15.2
Sep 18 0 11.7
Oct 18 0 11.7
Nov 16 0 8.6
Dec 20 0 8.4

 

Humidity and Wind

Sunset Beach has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is February (59.6% relative humidity), and the most humid month is August (73.4%).

Wind in Sunset Beach is usually calm. The windiest month is June, followed by May and April. June’s average wind speed of around 7.5 knots (8.6 MPH or 13.8 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late June where average top sustained speeds reach 16.2 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Sunset Beach.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 5.7 Light breeze 11.8 Significant breeze
Feb 6.5 Light breeze 13.3 Significant breeze
Mar 7.1 Gentle breeze 13.8 Significant breeze
Apr 7.4 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
May 7.4 Gentle breeze 13.8 Significant breeze
Jun 7.5 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Jul 7.2 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Aug 5.9 Light breeze 12.2 Significant breeze
Sep 6.1 Light breeze 12.3 Significant breeze
Oct 5.6 Light breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
Nov 5.5 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Dec 5.4 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 60.5%
Feb 59.6%
Mar 61.5%
Apr 64.3%
May 67.7%
Jun 69.5%
Jul 70.9%
Aug 73.4%
Sep 69.8%
Oct 67%
Nov 64.4%
Dec 67.8%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Sunset Beach?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Sunset Beach, NC, US is July, followed by April and January. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Sunset Beach in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 63.4 in December means 63.4% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Sunset Beach Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 82.8°F (28.2°C) and 58.8°F (14.9°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 5 to 6 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 6 to 9 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Sunset Beach, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 86.7°F (30.4°C) and 64.5°F (18.1°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 5 to 6 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Sunset Beach to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 63°F (17.2°C) and 55.6°F (13.1°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 5 to 6 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Sunset Beach, NC, US