‹ Outer Banks weather by month
Typical December weather
Outer Banks
North Carolina · December
55° days
40° nights
about 6 rainy days · 9½ hours of daylight · ocean 53°
What to pack
- Sweater
What December feels like
December light comes in low and sideways, and the Christmas lights on the little houses in Manteo are about the only thing lit up for miles. Pack wind protection over warmth; on a barrier island it is never really the cold that gets you.
Expect about 6 days with real rain — enough to notice, not enough to plan around. about 5 nights dip below freezing.
Can you swim?
The ocean runs about 53° — frigid — locals in wetsuits only.
The numbers
| Typical high | 55° |
|---|---|
| Typical low | 40° |
| Days with real rain | 6 |
| Total rain | 3.3 in |
| Water temperature | 53° |
| Sunrise / sunset (mid-month) | 7:05 am / 4:49 pm |