Cape Lookout (North Carolina)

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Cape Lookout appears left of center near the bottom of this view of North Carolina Coast. NCOuterBanks-EO.jpg
Cape Lookout appears left of center near the bottom of this view of North Carolina Coast.

Cape Lookout is the southern point of the Core Banks, one of the natural barrier islands on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. It delimits Onslow Bay to the west from Raleigh Bay to the east. Core Banks and Shackleford Banks have been designated as parts of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. [1]

Contents

Part of Carteret County, the cape sits 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Beaufort. It is one of the state's three major capes, along with Cape Hatteras to the north and Cape Fear to the south.

The 163-foot (50 m) [2] Cape Lookout Lighthouse sits about three miles northeast of the cape's point. [3]

Climate

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Cape Lookout, North Carolina has a humid 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 afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Cape Lookout is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during the Atlantic 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 with wind chill values < 10 °F (< -12 °C). The plant hardiness zone in Cape Lookout is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 14.6 °F (-9.7 °C). [4] The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak in nor'easter activity is in February.

Climate data for Cape Lookout, NC (1981-2010 Averages)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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)
Average precipitation 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)
Average relative humidity (%)74.775.174.574.976.779.082.279.778.975.177.575.977.0
Average dew 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)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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]

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Cape Lookout, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type of Live oak/Sea Oats Uniola paniculata (90) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20). [7]

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The Core Banks are barrier islands in North Carolina, part of the Outer Banks and Cape Lookout National Seashore. Named after the Coree tribe, they extend from Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Lookout, and consist of two low-relief narrow islands, North Core Banks and South Core Banks, and, since September 2011, two smaller islands. New Drum Inlet, Old Drum Inlet and Ophelia Inlet now separate the islands. The Core Banks are now uninhabited. However, Portsmouth, at the north end of the North Core Banks, was once a substantial port, and Cape Lookout Village, about one and half miles south of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, contains the historic Lookout Life-Saving Station, a U.S. Coast Guard Station, and several island homes.

References

  1. Cape Lookout National Seashore. "Current Documents" . Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  2. "CAPE LOOKOUT". www.outerbankslighthousesociety.org. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  3. "Maps - Cape Lookout National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  4. "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University" . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  6. "Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions". Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)" . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
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