Wilmington, NC – A frosty morning grips the Carolina coast as the mercury dips into the low 30s and wind chills hover in the 20s. Across Wilmington and surrounding areas, skies remain clear and bright, but the air carries a winter bite — a reminder that the transition toward December has officially begun.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Friday will stay sunny but brisk, with highs near 50°F and northwest gusts up to 18 mph. Tonight brings another freeze, with temperatures falling to around 28°F under mostly clear skies. Residents should protect exposed pipes and plants as the cold lingers into early Saturday.
By Saturday afternoon, milder air begins to return, lifting highs into the lower 50s with light winds and plenty of sunshine — a brief calm before moisture surges back from the Gulf. Sunday will feel more like early fall than winter, with highs nearing 70°F under partly cloudy skies. However, clouds will thicken by evening as a rain system approaches.
The next round of active weather arrives late Sunday night into Monday, with rain chances climbing to 60% and lingering into Tuesday. This system marks a shift toward unsettled conditions that may stretch into early December as cooler air trails behind the rain.
For residents wrapping up holiday travel or early decorating plans, expect a chilly start, pleasant Saturday, and damp beginning to next week.
5-Day Outlook (Wilmington, NC)
Friday: Sunny, high 50°F, breezy.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 50°F.
Sunday: Mostly sunny early, high 69°F.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, rain possible, high 56°F.
Tuesday: Rain likely, high 62°F.
