Wilmington, NC weather in August
In August, Wilmington sees highs around 88°F and lows around 72°F: hot and oppressively humid, with frequent rain. There are about 14 days with rain. It is one of the warmest months in Wilmington.
- Normal high
- 88°F
- Normal low
- 72°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 8.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 28
- dew point 65°F+
How August changes from start to finish
| August 1 | August 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 90°F | 87°F |
| Normal low | 73°F | 70°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 46% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:22 am / 8:13 pm | 6:44 am / 7:39 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 12.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical August day
- 6 am72°Fdew point 70°F
- 9 am80°Fdew point 72°F
- Noon85°Fdew point 71°F
- 3 pm85°Fdew point 71°F
- 6 pm81°Fdew point 71°F
- 9 pm76°Fdew point 71°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from New River Mcaf (46 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 27% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 52%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph18 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more12 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more28 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per August, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in August
Normal precipitation is 8.2 in; a dry August brings about 5.8 in and a wet one about 9.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 5 days bring half an inch or more, and about 3 an inch or more.
How August varies from year to year
- Warmest August, 1991-20201999: average high 91°F
- Coolest August2004: average high 85°F
- Wettest August2006: 18.8 in
- Driest August2010: 2.7 in
- Highest reading103°F (August 1, 1999)
- Lowest reading55°F (August 7, 2004)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
August compared with July and September
| July | August | September | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 90°F | 88°F | 84°F |
| Normal low | 73°F | 72°F | 67°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Daylight | 14.2 h | 13.4 h | 12.4 h |
Highs change by -2°F from July and -4°F into September.
Nearby alternatives in August
- Warmer: Columbia, SC177 mi · high 94°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Fayetteville, NC78 mi · high 89°F · 10 wet days
How Wilmington ranks in August
- Normal high163rd warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days342nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days310th most of 341
What to pack for Wilmington in August
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 88°F and about 28 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 14 days
- A swimsuit – about 18 beach days
Heating and cooling
August has 0 heating degree days and 465 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Wilmington in August?
The normal high is 88°F and the normal low is 72°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest August reading was 103°F (August 1, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in Wilmington in August?
About 14 days in August have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 8.2 in. The wettest August in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (18.8 in); the driest was in 2010 (2.7 in).
Is August a good time to visit Wilmington?
August ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Wilmington (41 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days and about 12 days at 90°F or hotter. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Wilmington Intl Airport (USW00013748), 3.9 mi NE of the city center, 33 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: New River Mcaf (USW00093727), 46 mi NE of the city center, 26 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Jacksonville (723096-93727), 44 mi NE of the city center, 26 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.