ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Outer Banks vs Wilmington: weather in May
Wilmington edges out Outer Banks for sun in May: 34% clear historically versus 16% (8-year ERA5 average, a 18-point gap). Both are viable — Wilmington is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific May. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Outer Banks
NC
- Clear days, May
- 16%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 70°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 5%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 27%
- Rain frequency
- 35% of days
Wilmington
NC
- Clear days, May
- 34%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 80°F
- Early May (1st–15th)
- 35%
- Late May (16th–end)
- 33%
Compare Outer Banks vs Wilmington in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.