Updated October 2026
Cape Lookout National Seashore Weather by Month
Cape Lookout National Seashore is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 93°F and a low of 73°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 62°F and an average low of 38°F. August is the wettest month, with about 8 inches of precipitation.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 12.5 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Cape Lookout National Seashore can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
93°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
38°F avg low
Wettest month
Aug
8.0 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.3 h of daylight
Average weather at Cape Lookout by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F | 38°F | 4.6 in | 9.9 h |
| February | 63°F | 39°F | 3.7 in | 10.7 h |
| March | 69°F | 45°F | 3.9 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 77°F | 54°F | 3.6 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 84°F | 62°F | 4.3 in | 13.8 h |
| June | 90°F | 69°F | 4.4 in | 14.3 h |
| July | 93°F | 73°F | 6.7 in | 14.1 h |
| August | 91°F | 72°F | 8.0 in | 13.3 h |
| September | 87°F | 69°F | 7.1 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 79°F | 59°F | 4.5 in | 11.1 h |
| November | 70°F | 48°F | 4.1 in | 10.1 h |
| December | 64°F | 41°F | 4.6 in | 9.7 h |
| Year total | 59.5 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00311606, 12.5 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Cape Lookout is at that time of year.
Cape Lookout weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 63°F in all three months, with average lows between 38°F and 41°F. Together the three months average 12.9 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.7 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 69°F in March to 84°F in May, with average lows between 45°F and 62°F. Together the three months average 11.8 inches of precipitation, about 20% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.8 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 93°F in July, between 90°F in June and 91°F in August, with average lows between 69°F and 73°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in all three months. Together the three months average 19.1 inches of precipitation, about 32% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.3 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 87°F in September to 70°F in November, with average lows between 48°F and 69°F. Together the three months average 15.7 inches of precipitation, about 26% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Spring: Temperatures generally range from 50 F to 70+ F. Rain & wind are common Summer: Temperatures usually range from 80 F to 100 F with high humidity (80-90%). Average wind speed is 10-15 mph. Be prepared with plenty of water. With little shade on the islands, an umbrella to provide shade from the sun is a good idea. Fall: Temperatures usually range from the high 70 F to the upper 40 F. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 50 F - 32 F. Winds can be strong. Dress in layers.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Cape Lookout
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 34.83°N, 76.34°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Cape Lookout National Seashore →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 1.8× the visitors of the park's average month. February is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Cape Lookout National Seashore. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Cape Lookout.
Where to stay near Cape Lookout
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Top-rated places to stay near Cape Lookout
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Cape Lookout National Seashore, with an average high of 93°F and an average low of 73°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 12.5 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Cape Lookout National Seashore, with an average low of 38°F and an average high of 62°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
August is the wettest month, with about 8 inches of precipitation. April is the driest, at about 3.6 inches. The station records about 59.5 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at Cape Lookout National Seashore runs from about 9.7 hours a day in December to about 14.3 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
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84 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
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104 mi away · warmest in July (91°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00311606), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.