Weather & Climate in Porters Neck, NC

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

Porters Neck enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 302 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 60.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 23 feet.

Temperature

47°F Jan (8°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)

Annual Average	64.4°F
	19% above US avg
January Average	47°F (8°C)
July Average	82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days	302 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Area	2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
Population Density	1,313/sq mi
Coordinates	34.2932°N, 77.7706°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	New Hanover County County
Nearest Airport	Wilmington International (ILM) 8 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 60.2"

58% above US avg

Snowfall 0.9"

Wettest Month (Jul) 7.83"

Driest Month (Oct) 2.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median	40.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively High
Risk Score	96.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability	19.0 / 100
Community Resilience	90.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively High
Hurricane	Very High
Earthquake	Relatively Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Moderate
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave	Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather	Relatively High
Lightning	Very High
Ice Storm	Relatively High
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Moderate
Landslide	Very Low
Coastal Flood	Relatively High

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

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (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	127 km	0 km

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

Hurricane History

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

Year	Name	Category	Max Wind	Closest
2022	Ian	Category 1	81 mph	172 km
2020	Isaias	Category 1	92 mph	80 km
2019	Dorian	Category 3	115 mph	74 km
2018	Florence	Category 3	109 mph	11 km
2016	Matthew	Category 2	98 mph	62 km
2014	Arthur	Category 2	98 mph	54 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	86 mph	101 km
2010	Earl	Category 3	115 mph	300 km
2005	Ophelia	Category 1	86 mph	50 km
2004	Alex	Category 2	98 mph	111 km
2004	Gaston	Category 1	75 mph	222 km
2004	Charley	Category 1	81 mph	102 km
2003	Isabel	Category 2	104 mph	154 km
1999	Irene	Category 2	109 mph	105 km
1999	Floyd	Category 2	104 mph	28 km
1999	Dennis	Category 2	104 mph	137 km
1998	Bonnie	Category 3	115 mph	7 km
1996	Fran	Category 3	115 mph	49 km
1996	Bertha	Category 2	104 mph	3 km
1994	Gordon	Category 1	81 mph	194 km

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

Tornado History

312 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 24 fatalities, 674 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984	EF4	95 km	21.0 mi	3
Feb 15, 2021	EF3	80 km	21.9 mi	3
Apr 16, 2011	EF3	61 km	3.8 mi	0
Nov 16, 2006	EF3	43 km	2.2 mi	8
Apr 18, 1969	EF3	99 km	25.8 mi	0
Aug 17, 1965	EF3	98 km	0.3 mi	0
Mar 17, 1965	EF3	93 km	41.3 mi	2
Apr 8, 1957	EF3	66 km	8.0 mi	0
Oct 9, 1950	EF3	78 km	2.0 mi	0
Aug 7, 2024	EF2	55 km	4.7 mi	0
Aug 3, 2020	EF2	53 km	8.3 mi	0
Sep 5, 2019	EF2	80 km	9.3 mi	0
Sep 5, 2019	EF2	77 km	13.0 mi	0
Nov 24, 2018	EF2	89 km	2.8 mi	0
Sep 8, 2014	EF2	61 km	0.2 mi	0
Apr 16, 2011	EF2	79 km	2.4 mi	0
Apr 16, 2011	EF2	97 km	13.1 mi	1
Apr 6, 2009	EF2	77 km	1.4 mi	0
Mar 28, 2009	EF2	87 km	1.6 mi	0
May 11, 2008	EF2	81 km	5.0 mi	0

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

Wildfire History

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

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1986	UNNAMED	77,768	23 km
2011	JUNIPER ROAD	31,511	27 km
1994	FISH DAY	21,772	97 km
1994	UNNAMED	7,944	46 km
1985	UNNAMED	5,807	89 km
2009	CAROLINA BAY	3,056	92 km
1985	UNNAMED	2,970	31 km
1992	GREAT LAKE	2,843	89 km
1986	UNNAMED	2,642	89 km
2020	TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD	2,076	21 km
1993	UNNAMED	2,073	50 km
2006	UNNAMED	2,027	89 km
1986	UNNAMED	2,024	4 km
2013	WOODPECKER FIRE	2,015	85 km
2010	BURNCOMP27	1,894	84 km
2020	CRO PETTIFORD CREEK - C-29/30/31 RX	1,878	84 km
2020	CRO HUNTERS CREEK C-37 RX	1,616	85 km
2006	UNNAMED	1,602	80 km
2020	CRO MILLIS ROAD C-28/26 RX	1,584	89 km
2014	SHAKEN CREEK	1,469	36 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	47°F (8°C)	4.3 in	Coldest
February	48°F (9°C)	3.9 in
March	55°F (13°C)	4.1 in
April	62°F (17°C)	3.0 in
May	70°F (21°C)	4.3 in
June	76°F (25°C)	5.6 in
July	82°F (28°C)	7.8 in	Warmest, Wettest
August	79°F (26°C)	6.9 in
September	74°F (24°C)	5.9 in
October	64°F (18°C)	2.9 in	Driest
November	56°F (13°C)	3.2 in
December	48°F (9°C)	3.7 in

Porters Neck has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 47°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 55.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (7.8") and October the driest (2.9").

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