AI-generatedNags Head, Outer Banks at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 28°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 26.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,410 h
- Rain a year
- 1,164 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 2 m
Climate in Nags Head, Outer Banks
Nags Head, Outer Banks has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 28 °C, while January is the coolest at 10 °C. With around 2,410 hours of sunshine a year, Nags Head, Outer Banks is sunny; June is the sunniest month with 8.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 17°
- Midday, 13:00: about 21°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 21°
- Evening, 20:00: about 19°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
07:0818:28
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:52–07:43 · evening 17:54–18:44
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:42–06:52 · evening 18:44–18:54
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Nags Head, Outer Banks in October?
In October, Nags Head, Outer Banks is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 20.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 93 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 20 min07:08 – 18:28
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 7 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 31 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 46 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %30 %
- Seaweight 25 %56 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %53 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %74 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Nags Head, Outer Banks
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 19.8 – 22.0 °C
Swimming season: Jun – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Nags Head, Outer Banks ranges from 7.7 °C in February to 26.0 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to November the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 24.8 and 27.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.2° | 6.5° | 11.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 7.7° | 5.5° | 10.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 9.1° | 7.0° | 11.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | 12.8° | 11.0° | 14.5° | cold |
| MayMay | 17.6° | 16.1° | 19.2° | fresh |
| JuneJun | 22.7° | 21.1° | 23.9° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 25.5° | 24.3° | 26.6° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 26.0° | 24.8° | 27.1° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 24.5° | 23.8° | 25.4° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 20.9° | 19.8° | 22.0° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 16.1° | 15.0° | 17.2° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 12.1° | 10.6° | 14.4° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Nags Head, Outer Banks
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.2 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Nags Head, Outer Banks, 55 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Nags Head, Outer Banks
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 45 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Nags Head, Outer Banks: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Nags Head, Outer Banks has about 8 rainy days with 93 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Nags Head, Outer Banks
How breezy and how cloudy Nags Head, Outer Banks is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Nags Head, Outer Banks typically peaks at 31 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 46 % of the sky over Nags Head, Outer Banks: variable cloud, with about 6.2 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Nags Head, Outer Banks
How often the day gets hot in Nags Head, Outer Banks (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Nags Head, Outer Banks has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 21 °C: some hot or muggy days. Single hot or muggy days are possible; a hat and water bottle are enough.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Nags Head, Outer Banks
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 17°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 7 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (5°), the warmest in July (24°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from June to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in May and in October. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to February, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 119 days a year, mostly from May to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 17 | 10° | 5° | 9.2° | 4.8 h | 10 | 107 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | 11° | 6° | 7.7° | 5.3 h | 10 | 99 |
| MarchMar | 23 | 14° | 8° | 9.1° | 6.3 h | 10 | 104 |
| AprilApr | 29 | 18° | 13° | 12.8° | 7.7 h | 9 | 85 |
| MayMay | 50 | 22° | 17° | 17.6° | 8.1 h | 9 | 81 |
| JuneJun | 88 | 26° | 22° | 22.7° | 8.6 h | 9 | 74 |
| JulyJul | 87 | 28° | 24° | 25.5° | 8.3 h | 11 | 91 |
| AugustAug | 83 | 28° | 24° | 26.0° | 7.5 h | 12 | 113 |
| SeptemberSep | 82 | 25° | 22° | 24.5° | 6.3 h | 11 | 112 |
| OctoberOct | 50 | 21° | 17° | 20.9° | 6.2 h | 8 | 93 |
| NovemberNov | 21 | 16° | 11° | 16.1° | 5.3 h | 9 | 100 |
| DecemberDec | 18 | 12° | 7° | 12.1° | 4.7 h | 10 | 107 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
35.96° N, 75.62° W · 2 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Nags Head, Outer Banks
The best time to visit Nags Head, Outer Banks is from June to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from June to July and in September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from April to June and from September to November. The wettest month is August with 113 mm of precipitation.
Nags Head, Outer Banks through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 14–22 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Nags Head, Outer Banks in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 26–28 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Nags Head, Outer Banks in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 16–25 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Nags Head, Outer Banks in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 10–12 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Nags Head, Outer Banks for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Nags Head, Outer Banks
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Nags Head, Outer Banks: score 88 against 50. In June, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C warmer in June. June has one more rainy day. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 50 | 88better |
| Day high | 21° | 26° |
| Night low | 17° | 22° |
| Sea | 20.9° | 22.7° |
| Sunshine | 6.2 h | 8.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 8better | 9 |
| Rainfall | 93 mm | 74 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 7better | 23 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jun – Jul, Sep
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Aug
12 or more rainy days
Nags Head, Outer Banks month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
17January10° · Sea 9° · 5 h
In January, Nags Head, Outer Banks is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 107 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 37 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in January19February11° · Sea 8° · 5 h
In February, Nags Head, Outer Banks is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 7.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 99 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 37 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in February23March14° · Sea 9° · 6 h
In March, Nags Head, Outer Banks is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 104 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 36 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in March29April18° · Sea 13° · 8 h
In April, Nags Head, Outer Banks is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 12.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 85 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in April50May22° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In May, Nags Head, Outer Banks is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 17.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 81 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in May88June26° · Sea 23° · 9 h
In June, Nags Head, Outer Banks is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 22.7 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 74 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in June87July28° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In July, Nags Head, Outer Banks is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 25.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 91 mm in total. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in July83August28° · Sea 26° · 8 h
In August, Nags Head, Outer Banks is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 113 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in August82September25° · Sea 25° · 6 h
In September, Nags Head, Outer Banks is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 24.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 112 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in September50October21° · Sea 21° · 6 h
In October, Nags Head, Outer Banks is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 20.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 93 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in October21November16° · Sea 16° · 5 h
In November, Nags Head, Outer Banks is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 100 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in November18December12° · Sea 12° · 5 h
In December, Nags Head, Outer Banks is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 107 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Nags Head, Outer Banks.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in DecemberNags Head, Outer Banks compared
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Nags Head vs. Virginia Beach
In October Nags Head has the better holiday weather (score 50 vs. 45). During the day Virginia Beach is 1 °C cooler than Nags Head. The sea in Virginia Beach is 1 °C cooler.
| in October | Nags Head | Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 50 | 45 |
| Daytime high | 21° | 20° |
| Sea | 21° | 20° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 8 | 8 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Nags Head, Outer Banks ranks 22 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Charlotte22°85
- 2Greenville22°85
- 3Raleigh22°84
- 4Savannah25°84
- 5Richmond21°82
- 6Asheville19°82
- 7Knoxville21°82
- 8Washington20°19°81
- 22Nags HeadThis page21°21°50
Planning a trip to Nags Head, Outer Banks
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Nags Head, Outer Banks in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Nags Head, Outer Banks has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 18).
- 27
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
- 58
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 8.2 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 84
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 50
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 18
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h 45 min
- Distance
- 6,000 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Nags Head, Outer Banks lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Nags Head, Outer Banks
When is the best time to visit Nags Head, Outer Banks?
The best time to visit Nags Head, Outer Banks is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Nags Head, Outer Banks?
The sea temperature in Nags Head, Outer Banks ranges from 7.7 °C in February to 26.0 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
Can you swim in Nags Head, Outer Banks in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 20.9 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in Nags Head, Outer Banks?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C and nights around 24 °C. January is the coolest month at 10 °C.
When does it rain most in Nags Head, Outer Banks?
The wettest month is August with 113 mm of precipitation. The driest month is June with 74 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Nags Head, Outer Banks get?
Nags Head, Outer Banks gets around 2,410 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 8.6 hours a day; in December there are 4.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Nags Head, Outer Banks in?
Nags Head, Outer Banks uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Nags Head, Outer Banks?
A nonstop flight from London to Nags Head, Outer Banks takes about 7 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,000 km.
When is hurricane season in Nags Head, Outer Banks?
Nags Head, Outer Banks lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Nags Head, Outer Banks?
Nags Head, Outer Banks has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 18). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 27, May half-term 58, Summer holidays 84, October half-term 50, Christmas holidays 18.
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