Nags Head, Outer Banks weather in May
Temperature, sea and sunshine in May: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in May
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
What is the weather like in Nags Head, Outer Banks in May?
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.
May compared
How the weather changes from April to June. Tap a month to open it.
More details for May
- Daylight
- 14 h 3 min05:57 – 20:00
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 10 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 30 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 54 %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 %50 %
- Seaweight 25 %9 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %85 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %65 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in May
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Nags Head, Outer Banks in May: quick answers
Is Nags Head, Outer Banks hot in May?
Warm rather than hot: in May, daytime highs in Nags Head, Outer Banks average 22 °C and nights cool to about 17 °C.
Can you swim in Nags Head, Outer Banks in May?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in May the sea averages just 17.6 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible from June to October.
Does it rain much in Nags Head, Outer Banks in May?
Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 81 mm.
Nags Head, Outer Banks month by month
The whole year in Nags Head, Outer BanksAll destinations: USAWhere to go in MaySea temperature in May
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