Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Rocky Point enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 80°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 63.5 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 43 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
62.4°F
16% above US avg
January Average
45°F (7°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
302 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
43 ft (13 m)
Area
6.9 sq mi (17.9 km²)
Population Density
151/sq mi
Coordinates
34.4440°N, 77.8909°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Pender County County
Nearest Airport
Wilmington International (ILM) 12 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall63.5"
67% above US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (Jul)7.91"
Driest Month (Oct)2.68"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
86.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
34.2 / 100
Community Resilience
65.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
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
125 km
0 km
Feb 11, 2014
7 km NW of Hobucken, North Carolina
M2.9
149 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
25 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
176 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
83 km
2019
Dorian
Category 3
115 mph
94 km
2018
Florence
Category 3
109 mph
28 km
2016
Matthew
Category 2
98 mph
81 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
73 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
116 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
70 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
131 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
225 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
103 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
155 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
125 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
27 km
1999
Dennis
Category 2
104 mph
156 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
18 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
33 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
18 km
1994
Gordon
Category 1
81 mph
212 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
247 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
367 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 55 fatalities, 1,075 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
75 km
21.0 mi
3
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
99 km
28.0 mi
16
Feb 15, 2021
EF3
82 km
21.9 mi
3
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
57 km
3.8 mi
0
Nov 16, 2006
EF3
34 km
2.2 mi
8
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
99 km
40.0 mi
12
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
84 km
9.0 mi
0
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
79 km
25.8 mi
0
Aug 17, 1965
EF3
99 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 17, 1965
EF3
87 km
41.3 mi
2
Apr 8, 1957
EF3
46 km
8.0 mi
0
Oct 9, 1950
EF3
72 km
2.0 mi
0
Aug 7, 2024
EF2
36 km
4.7 mi
0
Aug 3, 2020
EF2
67 km
8.3 mi
0
Sep 5, 2019
EF2
83 km
9.3 mi
0
Sep 5, 2019
EF2
80 km
13.0 mi
0
Nov 24, 2018
EF2
93 km
2.8 mi
0
Sep 8, 2014
EF2
43 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
83 km
29.9 mi
3
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
98 km
4.1 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
19 km
2011
JUNIPER ROAD
31,511
21 km
1994
FISH DAY
21,772
95 km
1994
UNNAMED
7,944
28 km
1985
UNNAMED
5,807
91 km
2009
CAROLINA BAY
3,056
94 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,970
21 km
1992
GREAT LAKE
2,843
87 km
2020
CRO BRIERY BRANCH C-5/6 RX
2,783
98 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,642
70 km
2016
UNNAMED
2,462
98 km
2020
TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD
2,076
19 km
1993
UNNAMED
2,073
59 km
2006
UNNAMED
2,027
90 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,024
17 km
2013
WOODPECKER FIRE
2,015
86 km
2010
BURNCOMP27
1,894
85 km
2020
CRO PETTIFORD CREEK - C-29/30/31 RX
1,878
85 km
2020
CRO HUNTERS CREEK C-37 RX
1,616
84 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,602
79 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
Coldest
February
47°F (8°C)
3.8 in
March
54°F (12°C)
4.1 in
April
61°F (16°C)
3.0 in
May
69°F (21°C)
4.4 in
June
76°F (24°C)
5.5 in
July
80°F (27°C)
7.9 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
78°F (26°C)
6.6 in
September
74°F (23°C)
5.3 in
October
63°F (17°C)
2.7 in
Driest
November
55°F (13°C)
3.1 in
December
48°F (9°C)
3.5 in
Rocky Point has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 45°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 54.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (7.9") and October the driest (2.7").