Wilmington, N.C. – Storm clouds will hang over the North Carolina coast Sunday as offshore low pressure pulls showers inland, leaving beach towns damp while communities farther west stay mostly dry.
According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, coastal areas face a 60% chance of rain through the afternoon with highs between 82 and 85 degrees. Moisture is expected to remain close to the shore, sparing inland counties where partly cloudy skies and hotter temperatures, up to 88 degrees, are forecast. Overnight lows range from the lower 70s along the coast to the upper 60s inland.
Beachgoers in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, and Topsail Island should prepare for sudden downpours and keep an eye on lightning risks. The NWS advises limiting time on open sand and near the water during storms. Farther inland in Fayetteville, Lumberton, and Whiteville, dry conditions will allow for outdoor plans, though heat and humidity remain a concern.
The rain threat should taper by tonight, with more settled weather expected to start the workweek. Additional updates will be issued if the coastal low strengthens or drifts westward.
