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Morehead City, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Carteret County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
9,696 Population 1,309/sq mi density
$53,718 Median Income $40,605 per capita
$330,900 Home Value $404,442 Zillow
$1,122 Median Rent 37.0% income on rent
63°F Avg Temperature 302 sunny days/yr
288 Violent Crime/100K 0 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$53,718 median income, 2.1% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.2 / 5.0
$330,900 home value, $1,122/mo rent
C
Safety
2.0 / 5.0
288 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.8 / 5.0
34.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Morehead City enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 61.2 inches. The area receives 0.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

46°F Jan (8°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average63.2°F
17% above US avg
January Average46°F (8°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days302 days/yr

Geography

Elevation10 ft (3 m)
Area8.5 sq mi (22.1 km²)
Population Density1,309/sq mi
Coordinates34.7279°N, 76.7391°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCarteret County County
Nearest AirportCoastal Carolina Regional (EWN)
29 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 61.2"
61% above US avg
Snowfall 0.5"
Wettest Month (Aug) 6.89"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.95"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0459 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score93.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability52.4 / 100
Community Resilience92.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.9 on Feb 11, 2014.

Aug 6, 1994 4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina M3.6 42 km
Feb 11, 2014 7 km NW of Hobucken, North Carolina M2.9 64 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

24 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 277 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 186 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 43 km
2018 Florence Category 3 70 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 49 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 13 km
2011 Irene Category 1 13 km
2010 Earl Category 2 228 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 39 km
2004 Alex Category 2 66 km
2004 Charley Category 1 208 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 52 km
1999 Irene Category 2 87 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 83 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 125 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 38 km
1996 Fran Category 3 134 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 84 km
1994 Gordon Category 1 149 km
1993 Emily Category 3 143 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

290 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 6 fatalities, 236 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 25, 2014 EF3 94 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 58 km 0
Mar 17, 1965 EF3 53 km 2
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 30 km 0
Nov 24, 2018 EF2 18 km 0
Apr 25, 2014 EF2 95 km 0
Apr 7, 2014 EF2 94 km 0
Nov 26, 2013 EF2 5 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 87 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 35 km 0
May 11, 2008 EF2 48 km 0
Oct 11, 2002 EF2 95 km 0
Sep 15, 1999 EF2 17 km 0
Sep 15, 1999 EF2 60 km 0
Oct 8, 1996 EF2 85 km 0
Sep 16, 1996 EF2 94 km 0
Sep 15, 1990 EF2 18 km 0
Mar 20, 1989 EF2 18 km 0
Jul 2, 1986 EF2 62 km 3
Jun 17, 1986 EF2 96 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 UNNAMED 77,768 92 km
2011 JUNIPER ROAD 31,511 90 km
1994 FISH DAY 21,772 33 km
1985 UNNAMED 5,807 21 km
2005 WEST MARSH UNIT 3.3.1 4,867 43 km
2015 NCCDR FY15 RX WEST MARSH 4,751 43 km
1986 UNNAMED 4,031 38 km
2007 TRAINING FIRE 3,843 34 km
2007 3 4 1 RUMLEYS MARSH FY 07 3,556 46 km
2024 HIGHWAY 12 3,502 37 km
2006 BELL ISLAND CENTRAL UNIT 2 1 2 3,307 83 km
2022 NCCDR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE 3,113 43 km
2009 CAROLINA BAY 3,056 19 km
1995 UNNAMED 3,042 37 km
1985 UNNAMED 2,970 91 km
1992 GREAT LAKE 2,843 35 km
2020 CRO BRIERY BRANCH C-5/6 RX 2,783 38 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,462 38 km
1989 UNNAMED 2,420 33 km
2009 2-1-3 BELL ISLAND SOUTH 2,297 82 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 46°F (8°C) 5.0 in Coldest
February 47°F (8°C) 4.1 in
March 54°F (12°C) 4.2 in
April 61°F (16°C) 3.0 in Driest
May 69°F (21°C) 4.5 in
June 76°F (24°C) 4.5 in
July 80°F (27°C) 6.3 in Warmest
August 79°F (26°C) 6.9 in Wettest
September 74°F (23°C) 6.0 in
October 64°F (18°C) 4.1 in
November 56°F (13°C) 3.8 in
December 48°F (9°C) 4.2 in

Morehead City has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 46°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 56.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (6.9") and April the driest (3.0").

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