North Carolina beaches in early May ....
 

Fodorites who have been on our Carolina beaches in May ... I'd like your opinions. We always go in Summer or Fall, and so it's always been warm enough to swim. Friends coming from Scotland, who've vacationed in Florida/Gulf beaches for the past 12 years, never been to North Carolina, are thinking of visiting Outer Banks during early May.

These guys are asking for advice ... and I know Outer Banks in May would be a whole other kettle of fish than a Gulf beach in May, as they're used to! Certainly too cool still to swim (right?) ... and the Atlantic surf is so much rowdier than the Gulf. I guess if they're coming to see the beauty, all will be fine ... They live in chill and cold in Scotland about 75% of the year; I believe I'd stick with Florida! ;;) I guess I just don't think our Coast in May feels that *beachy* yet ... whaddya think, guys? I hate to discourage them (they're planning to visit our mountains also), but I'd hate them to be disappointed with the *beachy* part of their trip ... :-(

BB, The water is going to be pretty chilly regardless of whether the air temperature is 65 or 90 (and I know you know it could be either). The gulf stream doesn't really warm the water temps up until the end of May. My daughter will give a whirl no matter what the weather is like but most of the surfers I see are still wearing wet suits at that time of year.

Bottom line, if your friends will be disappointed if it's too cold to swim, I'd steer them elsewhere.

I agree with Obxgirl..IF they are coming mainly to go into the water then they are not going to be happy.

OTOH, if they would appreciate pristine beach and all that goes with it and you can encourage them to go somewhere besides Nags Head..or at least in addition to it and onto the National Seashore itself, then it could be unforgettable for them.

Since the ocean temps are still chilly early May (70-75%), it will really bring down the air temp on the beach. So with the cold water and the wind, it will be chilly on the beach even if the air temp is 85 degrees.

In early May, you'll be lucky to get ocean temps in the mid-sixties at the Myrtle Beach-Wilmington beaches- the Gulf Stream is pretty nearby. Hatteras will be colder. I've vacationed at Topsail near Wilmington in mid-May three times and have found it to be barely warm enough to swim.

BRRRR, Bonnie!

GeorgeW, remember the South Carolina beaches average about ten degrees warmer than the NC beaches due to the Gulf Stream.

By the begining of May, Myrtle Beach Coastal waters will be 70 degrees warming up to 80 by the end of the month.

The ocean water temp is already 66 degrees in Myrtle Beach.

The NC Beaches will remain about 10 degrees colder reaching a high of only around 77-80 degrees during peak summer.

Though I would not belabor the point regarding temperatures, the Wilmington beaches are about as close to the Gulf Stream as Myrtle Beach. As a frequenter of Topsail Island, NC for nearly forty years, I will maintain that the ocean temperature will be around 66 degrees in mid-May and in the mid-eighties by mid-July. It is my good fortune that I will be vacationing at Topsail the week of May 20-27 and the week of July 1-8. I will have to bring my trusty thermometer!

Bonnie, perhaps you need to clarify WHY they are planning to visit the OBX in the first place.

Thank you, all, for your replies. I have written my friend a note, explaining the difference between the Florida and Carolina beach experience at that time of year. I asked her if she'd be happy without the calm, warm waters of Florida to swim in .... Will let you know what I hear back. Thanksabunch! :-)

Okay, guys, more info here! The date would be between April 29 thru May 13, probably that second week at the beach. My friends inform me that they are perfectly happy relaxing on the beach, sunning and reading ... don't need to go in water. But they would like to feel some warm, toasty sunshine. Would like to wear shorts and tees most of the time ...

Will the NC Coast *probably* be too cool to enjoy doing this? I know there are no guarantees with the weather ... from my research on undergroundweather.com, it looks like high 60's/low 70's daytime at that time of year. Of course, you're going to then have the breeze blowing off that cool water! I think it will be too chilly on the beach, most likely. Would love more of your opinions. I'm thinking that I will advise them to stick with Florida that time of year, much as I'd love to have them here. :-(

I was in OBX at the END of May last year and it was cold; it could have been a fluke weekend but high-50s was as warm as it got. Didn't sunbathe, didn't go in the pool, much less the ocean. There's still plenty of history and fun things to do. Maybe if they took a swim in the waters off Scotland before they left, NC would seem warm to them? Or they could try something like Arizona for a change of pace. If I lived in Scotland, I would want guaranteed warmth for my vacation.

The Outer Banks jut up northerly and are farther away from the Gulf Stream and, of course, are geographically north of the beaches in the rest of the Carolinas. That is why the Outer Banks aren't really swimmable until June or so.