New Bern, N.C. – Temperatures across Eastern North Carolina are expected to dip into the 50s by late this week, with some rural areas potentially seeing lows in the upper 40s as a cooler, drier air mass settles into the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City, a broad-scale pattern shift will bring below-normal temperatures and humidity levels across the Eastern U.S. beginning Thursday and lasting into early next week. Locally, high temperatures may only reach the low to mid-70s, a notable change from recent spring warmth.
The cooler trend will be most noticeable overnight, particularly in interior counties like Pitt, Lenoir, and Duplin, where overnight lows could fall into the upper 40s by Friday or Saturday. Coastal communities such as Morehead City and Wilmington will also feel the effects, though temperatures may stay slightly milder near the shore.
While no hazardous weather is expected, residents are advised to prepare for the sudden drop—especially those with outdoor plans or sensitive vegetation. Farmers and gardeners should monitor soil conditions, and energy use may increase as heating needs briefly return.
The cooler and drier pattern is expected to persist through at least Monday, May 27, with further updates likely later this week.
