Water Temperature of the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC

Current Water Temperature

86.4°F

Measurement Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 9:48 AM EDT

Today's Tides

High: July 23, 5:19 AM, 4.1 ft
Low: July 23, 11:44 AM, 0.2 ft
High: July 23, 6:01 PM, 4.8 ft

Temperature Locations

View Nearby Locations View All North Carolina Locations View Locations Near Me

Local Points of Interest

Dram Tree Park; Eagle Island

Cape Fear River

Station Name: Wilmington
Data Source: NOAA Tides and Currents

Elevation Above Sea Level: 0 feet

Sensor Depth: -3 feet

Nearest Address:
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
Wilmington, NC 28451
New Hanover County

GPS Coordinates: 34.2275, -77.953611

Nearby Water Temperatures

Atlantic Ocean, Wrightsville Beach, NC (9.6 mi)
Atlantic Ocean, Wrightsville Beach, NC (14.9 mi)
Atlantic Ocean, Cape Fear, NC (35.1 mi)
Atlantic Ocean, Wrightsville Beach, NC (37.7 mi)
Atlantic Ocean, Sunset Beach, NC (40.3 mi)
Buck Creek, Longs, SC (47.7 mi)
Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC (47.9 mi)
Waccamaw River, Longs, SC (48.7 mi)
Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC (52 mi)
Intracoastal Waterway, North Myrtle Beach, SC (54.5 mi)
Waccamaw River, Conway, SC (60 mi)
Intracoastal Waterway, Myrtle Beach, SC (62.2 mi)
Crabtree Swamp, Conway, SC (67.2 mi)
Atlantic Ocean, Myrtle Beach, SC (68 mi)
Waccamaw River, Conway, SC (68.1 mi)

Weather for Wilmington, North Carolina

Current Weather

84°F

Conditions: Sunny

Feels Like: 90.6°F

Heat Index: 94.5°F

Humidity: 80%

Wind: SW 11 mph

Wind Gusts: 14.1 mph

Wind Chill: 85.8°F

Dew Point: 74.8°F

Precipitation: 0 in

Cloud Cover: 25%

Visibility: 9 mi

Air Pressure: 1018 mbar

UV Index: 2.5

Five Day Weather Forecast

Thu
H: 94°F
L: 77°F

Fri
H: 87°F
L: 74°F

Sat
H: 83°F
L: 71°F

Sun
H: 86°F
L: 68°F

Mon
H: 89°F
L: 75°F

Air Quality

AQI: 2 - Moderate

PM2.5: 6.2 μg/m3

PM10: 8.9 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 98 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 1.8 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 0.7 μg/m3
Ozone: 53 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:17 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Daylight: 14 hrs 3 mins

Moonrise: 3:54 PM
Moon Transit: 8:50 PM
Moonset: 1:05 AM
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Moon Illumination: 66.1%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

9:35 AM - 12:05 AM
8:20 PM - 10:50 PM

Minor Periods

3:24 PM - 4:54 PM
12:35 AM - 2:05 AM

Action Rating: 3 out of 5

Small Craft Advisory issued July 22 at 8:38PM EDT until July 23 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Effective: Wed July 22, 2026, 8:38 PM
Expires: Thu July 23, 2026, 6:00 AM

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 20 kt with frequent gusts up to 25 kt nearshore. Seas 3 to 5 ft with a few 6 footers possible. * WHERE...Southeast North Carolina and Northeast South Carolina coastal waters out 20 NM. * WHEN...Until 6 AM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 22 at 8:26PM EDT until July 23 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Effective: Wed July 22, 2026, 8:26 PM
Expires: Thu July 23, 2026, 8:00 PM

* WHAT...Strong south to north longshore current expected. There is also a Moderate Risk of rip currents expected. * WHERE...In North Carolina, Coastal Pender and Coastal New Hanover Counties. In South Carolina, Coastal Horry and Coastal Georgetown Counties. * WHEN...From 6 AM EDT Thursday through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas. It may sweep swimmers off their feet, making it difficult to return to shore.

Caution should be used when in or near the water. Check with lifeguards before entering the ocean for possible hazards you may be swept into.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Sunny

High Temperature: 93.6°F

Low Temperature: 77.2°F

Average Temperature: 83°F

Average Humidity: 80%

Precipitation: 0.23 in

Chance of Rain: 70%

Chance of Snow: 0%

Maximum Wind: 14.1 mph

UV Index: 7.6

Air Quality

AQI: 1 - Good

PM2.5: 9.98 μg/m3

PM10: 14.19 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 100 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 2.08 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 0.73 μg/m3
Ozone: 58 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:17 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Daylight: 14 hrs 3 mins

Moonrise: 3:54 PM
Moon Transit: 8:50 PM
Moonset: 1:05 AM
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Moon Illumination: 66.1%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

9:35 AM - 12:05 AM
8:20 PM - 10:50 PM

Minor Periods

3:24 PM - 4:54 PM
12:35 AM - 2:05 AM

Action Rating: 3 out of 5

Friday, July 24, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Patchy rain nearby

High Temperature: 87.3°F

Low Temperature: 73.7°F

Average Temperature: 79.3°F

Average Humidity: 85%

Precipitation: 0.82 in

Chance of Rain: 86%

Chance of Snow: 0%

Maximum Wind: 7.6 mph

UV Index: 2.7

Air Quality

AQI: 1 - Good

PM2.5: 10.58 μg/m3

PM10: 13.78 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 114.33 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 2.93 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 0.78 μg/m3
Ozone: 58.04 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:17 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:19 PM
Daylight: 14 hrs 2 mins

Moonrise: 4:52 PM
Moon Transit: 9:40 PM
Moonset: 1:43 AM
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon Illumination: 76.3%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

10:24 AM - 12:54 AM
9:10 PM - 11:40 PM

Minor Periods

4:22 PM - 5:52 PM
1:13 AM - 2:43 AM

Action Rating: 2 out of 5

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Light rain shower

High Temperature: 82.6°F

Low Temperature: 70.8°F

Average Temperature: 75.4°F

Average Humidity: 90%

Precipitation: 0.43 in

Chance of Rain: 88%

Chance of Snow: 0%

Maximum Wind: 6.9 mph

UV Index: 7

Air Quality

AQI: 1 - Good

PM2.5: 7.64 μg/m3

PM10: 8.32 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 156.67 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 4.13 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 0.63 μg/m3
Ozone: 57.79 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:18 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:19 PM
Daylight: 14 hrs 1 mins

Moonrise: 5:47 PM
Moon Transit: 10:31 PM
Moonset: 2:26 AM
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon Illumination: 85.2%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

11:15 AM - 1:45 PM
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Minor Periods

5:17 PM - 6:47 PM
1:56 AM - 3:26 AM

Action Rating: 2 out of 5

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Partly Cloudy

High Temperature: 86.4°F

Low Temperature: 67.9°F

Average Temperature: 76.6°F

Average Humidity: 78%

Precipitation: 0.01 in

Chance of Rain: 29%

Chance of Snow: 0%

Maximum Wind: 8.3 mph

UV Index: 8

Air Quality

AQI: 1 - Good

PM2.5: 13.67 μg/m3

PM10: 15.38 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 166.08 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 4.49 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 0.92 μg/m3
Ozone: 69.75 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:19 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:18 PM
Daylight: 13 hrs 59 mins

Moonrise: 6:38 PM
Moon Transit: 11:22 PM
Moonset: 3:15 AM
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon Illumination: 92.3%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

12:07 AM - 2:37 PM
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Minor Periods

6:08 PM - 7:38 PM
2:45 AM - 4:15 AM

Action Rating: 2 out of 5

Monday, July 27, 2026

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Patchy rain nearby

High Temperature: 88.9°F

Low Temperature: 74.9°F

Average Temperature: 81°F

Average Humidity: 77%

Precipitation: 0.15 in

Chance of Rain: 68%

Chance of Snow: 0%

Maximum Wind: 10.3 mph

UV Index: 8

Air Quality

AQI: 2 - Moderate

PM2.5: 25.72 μg/m3

PM10: 27.7 μg/m3

Carbon Monoxide: 305.78 μg/m3
Nitrogen Dioxide: 11.67 μg/m3
Sulphur Dioxide: 1.37 μg/m3
Ozone: 40.89 μg/m3

Astronomical

Sunrise: 6:20 AM
Sun Transit: 1:18 PM
Sunset: 8:17 PM
Daylight: 13 hrs 58 mins

Moonrise: 7:22 PM
Moon Transit: 12:00 AM
Moonset: 4:10 AM
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon Illumination: 97.2%

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM
12:58 AM - 3:28 PM

Minor Periods

6:52 PM - 8:22 PM
3:40 AM - 5:10 AM

Action Rating: 3 out of 5

The times presented here are based upon the solunar theory, which is the idea that the movements of fish and other animals are affected by the location of the sun and moon. The major periods are believed to be the times of the greatest animal activity and occur when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot (lunar transits). The minor periods also see increased activity and occur when the moon is rising or setting. The strongest activity occurs during full or new moons, and the weakest during quarter or three quarter moons. This is indicated by the Action Rating.

Webcams Near Wilmington, NC

Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam

Water Temperature of the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC

Current Water Temperature

Today's Tides

Temperature Locations

Local Points of Interest

Nearby Water Temperatures

Weather for Wilmington, North Carolina

Current Weather

Five Day Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Small Craft Advisory issued July 22 at 8:38PM EDT until July 23 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 22 at 8:26PM EDT until July 23 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Weather Forecast

Air Quality

Astronomical

Best Times for Fishing or Hunting

Major Periods

Minor Periods

Webcams Near Wilmington, NC

Sponsored Content