North Carolina opens the morning under clear skies and mild air that feels out of season.
Palm fronds barely move, and jackets feel optional. This Weather matters now because travel increases quickly, and conditions will not stay this steady forever.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, sunshine dominates today with highs near 70 degrees. Light winds and dry roads create ideal travel conditions across coastal and inland routes, including U.S. 17 and I-40 corridors. Visibility remains excellent through the day.
Christmas Day turns even warmer. Afternoon highs reach the low 70s, flirting with record territory for late December. The air feels more like early spring than Winter, making for smooth holiday travel and outdoor plans.
Clouds increase Thursday night as a weak system approaches. Friday cools slightly, with highs near 59 degrees and thicker cloud cover. A small rain chance develops Friday night, though impacts remain limited. Roads may turn briefly damp, but widespread issues are not expected.
Saturday brings another warm rebound. Sunshine returns, pushing highs back into the low 70s just as post-Christmas travel peaks on Saturday, December 27. Traffic volume increases, but weather-related slowdowns stay unlikely.
Looking ahead, meteorologists note a sharper cooldown early next week. Lows dip into the upper 20s by Monday night. Any lingering moisture could freeze after dark, especially inland. While snow is not expected locally, Winter hazards like frost and black ice become possible.
Nationally, Winter weather intensifies elsewhere, with heavy snow in the Northeast and flooding concerns in California. That contrast highlights how quickly patterns can flip, even here.
Five-Day Outlook – Wilmington, NC
• Today: Sunny, high near 70°
• Christmas Day: Sunny, high near 71°
• Thursday: Increasing clouds, low near 49°
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, high near 59°
• Saturday: Sunny, high near 72°
