Cape Lookout is the southern point of theCore Banks, one of the naturalbarrier islands on theAtlantic coast ofNorth Carolina. It delimitsOnslow Bay to the west fromRaleigh Bay to the east.Core Banks andShackleford Banks have been designated as parts of theCape Lookout National Seashore.[1]
Part ofCarteret County, the cape sits 11 miles (18 km) southeast ofBeaufort. It is one of the state's three majorcapes, along withCape Hatteras to the north andCape Fear to the south.
The 163-foot (50 m)[2]Cape Lookout Lighthouse sits about three miles northeast of the cape's point.[3]
According to theTrewartha climate classification system, Cape Lookout, North Carolina has ahumid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (Cfak). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Cape Lookout, a cooling afternoonsea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur withheat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Cape Lookout is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during theAtlantic hurricane season which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < 10 °F (< -12 °C). Theplant hardiness zone in Cape Lookout is 9a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 20°F.[4] The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak innor'easter activity is in February.
| Climate data for Cape Lookout, NC (1981-2010 Averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.6 (11.4) | 54.1 (12.3) | 59.0 (15.0) | 65.8 (18.8) | 72.8 (22.7) | 80.0 (26.7) | 83.1 (28.4) | 82.6 (28.1) | 79.3 (26.3) | 71.6 (22.0) | 64.2 (17.9) | 56.0 (13.3) | 68.5 (20.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.4 (8.0) | 48.0 (8.9) | 53.2 (11.8) | 60.6 (15.9) | 68.1 (20.1) | 76.0 (24.4) | 79.5 (26.4) | 78.8 (26.0) | 75.0 (23.9) | 66.1 (18.9) | 57.9 (14.4) | 49.7 (9.8) | 63.3 (17.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 40.1 (4.5) | 41.8 (5.4) | 47.3 (8.5) | 55.4 (13.0) | 63.4 (17.4) | 71.9 (22.2) | 75.9 (24.4) | 75.0 (23.9) | 70.8 (21.6) | 60.5 (15.8) | 51.6 (10.9) | 43.4 (6.3) | 58.2 (14.6) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.52 (115) | 3.71 (94) | 4.42 (112) | 3.31 (84) | 4.27 (108) | 4.52 (115) | 6.02 (153) | 7.26 (184) | 6.71 (170) | 4.48 (114) | 4.05 (103) | 4.01 (102) | 57.28 (1,455) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 74.7 | 75.1 | 74.5 | 74.9 | 76.7 | 79.0 | 82.2 | 79.7 | 78.9 | 75.1 | 77.5 | 75.9 | 77.0 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 38.8 (3.8) | 40.5 (4.7) | 45.3 (7.4) | 52.6 (11.4) | 60.5 (15.8) | 69.0 (20.6) | 73.6 (23.1) | 72.0 (22.2) | 68.0 (20.0) | 58.0 (14.4) | 50.9 (10.5) | 42.4 (5.8) | 56.0 (13.3) |
| Source: PRISM[5] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Cape Hatteras, NC Ocean Water Temperature (72 NE Cape Lookout) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 49 (9) | 46 (8) | 52 (11) | 59 (15) | 68 (20) | 74 (23) | 78 (26) | 80 (27) | 77 (25) | 70 (21) | 58 (14) | 55 (13) | 64 (18) |
| Source: NOAA[6] | |||||||||||||
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, Cape Lookout, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type ofLive oak/Sea OatsUniola paniculata (90) with a dominant vegetation form ofCoastalPrairie (20).[7]
| Preceded by | Beaches of The Outer Banks | Succeeded by |
34°36′19″N76°32′10″W / 34.60528°N 76.53611°W /34.60528; -76.53611
