Outer Banks best: Excellent
Narrow barrier islands of dunes, lighthouses and wind.
Known for its famous lighthouses and wild horses.
Vitamin D in North Carolina: best months for sun and a travel guide
The best months for vitamin D in North Carolina are May to August, October. In June, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 9.4 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too cool from November to April and rainy or stormy in September.
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North Carolina month by month
North Carolina is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 3.2 h | 3.3 | 16 min | 30 min | 13°C | 6/30 |
| February | Too cold | 4.7 h | 4.2 | 13 min | 24 min | 13°C | 5/30 |
| March | Too cold | 5.8 h | 5.3 | 10 min | 19 min | 17°C | 6/30 |
| April | Too cold | 7.6 h | 6.8 | 8 min | 15 min | 20°C | 5/30 |
| May | Excellent | 8.6 h | 7.4 | 7 min | 14 min | 25°C | 6/30 |
| June | Excellent | 9.4 h | 8.0 | 7 min | 13 min | 29°C | 2/30 |
| July | Excellent | 8.6 h | 7.7 | 7 min | 13 min | 30°C | 8/30 |
| August | Excellent | 7.9 h | 7.2 | 7 min | 14 min | 29°C | 11/30 |
| September | Bad weather | 6.3 h | 5.9 | 9 min | 17 min | 27°C | 7/30 |
| October | Good | 6.0 h | 5.1 | 10 min | 20 min | 22°C | 2/30 |
| November | Too cold | 3.7 h | 3.7 | 14 min | 27 min | 19°C | 3/30 |
| December | Too cold | 2.5 h | 3.0 | 18 min | 33 min | 14°C | 5/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
Travel guide: why go to North Carolina
Why go
North Carolina offers wild barrier islands, lighthouses and a unique history, with both families and wind sports fans.
Best for
Families, kitesurfers and history fans.
What to expect
A beach season from June to September, a hurricane risk from June to November, and a cool Atlantic early in the season. Outer Banks beaches are long and uncrowded.
Places in North Carolina
Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.
Wilmington best: Excellent
Historic riverfront town with film locations.
Colonial Port City, home of EUE Screen Gem studios. The main coastal city, a great destination for the beach lover.
Kitty Hawk best: Excellent
Close to where the Wright brothers first flew.
Cape Hatteras best: Excellent
Tall striped lighthouse and wild national seashore.
Emerald Isle best: Excellent
Quiet beach town with family rentals.
Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions about vitamin D in North Carolina
When is the best time to visit North Carolina for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in North Carolina are May to August, October. In June, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 9.4 usable sun hours a day.
Can you get vitamin D from the sun in North Carolina in December?
Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 18 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 2.5 usable hours a day.
How long do I need in the sun in North Carolina?
In June, the best month, about 7 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 13 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.
Which months should I avoid in North Carolina?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from November to April and rainy or stormy in September.
What is the best place in North Carolina for vitamin D?
In June the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Outer Banks. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.
Plan by month
- Jan Too cold
- Feb Too cold
- Mar Too cold
- Apr Too cold
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Excellent
- Aug Excellent
- Sep Bad weather
- Oct Good
- Nov Too cold
- Dec Too cold