Weather & Climate in Nags Head, NC

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Nags Head enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 46.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 1.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 12 feet.

Temperature

43°F Jan (6°C) 80°F Jul (26°C)

Annual Average	61.6°F
	14% above US avg
January Average	43°F (6°C)
July Average	80°F (26°C)
Sunny Days	310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	12 ft (4 m)
Area	6.7 sq mi (17.2 km²)
Population Density	478/sq mi
Coordinates	35.9475°N, 75.6257°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Dare County County
Nearest Airport	Dare County Regional (MEO) 4 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.6"

23% above US avg

Snowfall 1.1"

Wettest Month (Aug) 5.83"

Driest Month (Apr) 3.31"

Air Quality

AQI Median	40.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Moderate
Risk Score	89.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability	45.2 / 100
Community Resilience	99.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Low
Hurricane	Relatively 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 High
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Very Low
Coastal Flood	Relatively High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.

Aug 6, 1994	4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina	M3.6	141 km	0 km
Feb 11, 2014	7 km NW of Hobucken, North Carolina	M2.9	116 km	4 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

24 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.

Year	Name	Category	Max Wind	Closest
2019	Dorian	Category 2	104 mph	71 km
2018	Florence	Category 2	104 mph	231 km
2017	Maria	Category 1	75 mph	262 km
2016	Matthew	Category 1	81 mph	120 km
2014	Arthur	Category 2	98 mph	20 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	86 mph	38 km
2010	Earl	Category 2	98 mph	180 km
2005	Ophelia	Category 1	86 mph	139 km
2004	Alex	Category 2	98 mph	82 km
2003	Isabel	Category 2	104 mph	117 km
1999	Floyd	Category 2	104 mph	104 km
1999	Irene	Category 2	109 mph	126 km
1999	Dennis	Category 2	98 mph	198 km
1998	Bonnie	Category 3	115 mph	13 km
1996	Fran	Category 3	115 mph	278 km
1996	Bertha	Category 2	104 mph	208 km
1995	Felix	Category 1	81 mph	249 km
1994	Gordon	Category 1	81 mph	250 km
1993	Emily	Category 3	115 mph	76 km
1991	Bob	Category 3	115 mph	82 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

147 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 42 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Sep 17, 1952	EF3	2 km	1.0 mi	0
Apr 25, 2014	EF2	98 km	33.5 mi	0
Aug 26, 2011	EF2	54 km	0.5 mi	0
Oct 17, 1999	EF2	58 km	0.2 mi	0
Nov 10, 1990	EF2	80 km	12.0 mi	0
Nov 17, 1988	EF2	70 km	9.0 mi	0
Nov 5, 1988	EF2	66 km	2.0 mi	0
Mar 31, 1987	EF2	81 km	10.0 mi	0
Jun 17, 1986	EF2	74 km	0.5 mi	0
Mar 28, 1984	EF2	87 km	6.0 mi	1
May 16, 1983	EF2	82 km	0.5 mi	0
Sep 28, 1982	EF2	9 km	0.3 mi	0
Jul 31, 1978	EF2	10 km	0.2 mi	1
May 20, 1973	EF2	70 km	2.7 mi	0
Jul 16, 1967	EF2	65 km	0.3 mi	0
Jul 14, 1963	EF2	67 km	1.0 mi	0
May 27, 1960	EF2	74 km	0.1 mi	0
Oct 9, 1959	EF2	95 km	1.0 mi	0
May 20, 1952	EF2	86 km	1.5 mi	0
Oct 31, 2019	EF1	99 km	4.9 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: ALLAN ROAD (110,696 acres, 1985).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1985	ALLAN ROAD	110,696	64 km
2008	EVANS ROAD	41,560	72 km
2011	PAINS BAY	40,218	36 km
2016	WHIPPING CREEK ROAD	12,512	44 km
2023	LAST RESORT	4,974	71 km
2009	2-2-1 ROANOKE MARSHES	4,953	17 km
2006	BELL ISLAND CENTRAL UNIT 2 1 2	3,307	90 km
2017	NCALR FY17 RX A 2.2	3,303	18 km
2003	ROANOKE MARSH 2 2 5 A	3,156	17 km
2006	ROANOKE MARSHES - 2.2.5	3,139	17 km
1999	NORTH RIVER	3,055	55 km
1999	LSR 2 5 6	2,629	43 km
2009	SW MASHOES	2,499	19 km
2005	LONG SHOAL RIVER 2.5.2-5	2,333	43 km
2003	FIRST FIRE-CODE 1	2,319	34 km
2009	2-1-3 BELL ISLAND SOUTH	2,297	91 km
2008	MCPHERSON ROAD	2,087	91 km
2000	QUAD 2 1 2	2,068	20 km
2022	FEREBEE ROAD	1,954	78 km
1990	UNNAMED	1,877	18 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	43°F (6°C)	4.5 in	Coldest
February	44°F (7°C)	3.8 in
March	51°F (10°C)	4.3 in
April	58°F (14°C)	3.3 in	Driest
May	66°F (19°C)	4.2 in
June	74°F (23°C)	4.4 in
July	80°F (26°C)	5.4 in	Warmest
August	78°F (26°C)	5.8 in	Wettest
September	74°F (23°C)	5.0 in
October	64°F (18°C)	4.0 in
November	56°F (13°C)	3.7 in
December	48°F (9°C)	3.7 in

Nags Head has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 43°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 51.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (5.8") and April the driest (3.3").

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