WILMINGTON, N.C. – A pale pink sky rises over the Cape Fear River this morning, reflecting off still water and empty docks. The air carries a crisp edge — cool enough for a jacket at dawn — but by midday, the November chill will give way to bright, gentle warmth stretching across the coastal plain.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, high pressure will dominate eastern North Carolina through the weekend, locking in clear skies and a steady warming trend. Temperatures climb from the low 40s at sunrise to near 66°F Thursday afternoon, then top 70°F by Saturday and Sunday. Winds from the northwest ease later today, allowing mild Atlantic air to flow back inland.
Residents can expect several days of classic fall weather — cool mornings, abundant sunshine, and ideal conditions for outdoor work or travel. Those driving along U.S. 17 or I-40 toward the coast will enjoy light winds and dry roads, with no rain in sight through early next week. It’s also a great stretch for early holiday decorating or leaf cleanup before humidity and rain chances edge higher closer to Thanksgiving week.
Morning lows will stay in the low 40s inland and upper 40s along the beaches, crisp but well above frost thresholds. Boaters and anglers can expect calm seas and moderate surf through Saturday.
Long-range models hint at a cooler, unsettled pattern returning next week, possibly with scattered rain just before Thanksgiving. Until then, Wilmington basks in an unusually steady stretch of fall sun — a brief, golden pause before late-season weather turns again.
Five-Day Forecast for Wilmington, NC:
Thu: 66/39 – Sunny; light northwest wind, mild afternoon.
Fri: 66/44 – Bright and calm; ideal for outdoor plans.
Sat: 71/56 – Partly sunny; warm and pleasant.
Sun: 75/52 – Sunny; light breeze, near-perfect conditions.
Mon: 70/48 – Mostly sunny; steady temps, dry pattern holds.
