Cape Hatteras has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with long hot summers, and short cool winters.
Most of the area falls into USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9.
Cape Hatteras is surrounded by water, with Pamlico Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
The proximity to water moderates conditions throughout the year, producing cooler summers and warmer winters than inland areas of North Carolina.
The cape is the northern limit of tropical fauna.

During the summer, average daily highs are in the 85 °F (29 °C) range, and occasional intense (but brief) thundershowers occur.
As a result of its proximity to water, temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C) are rare, with an average of only 2.3 days annually above 90 °F (32 °C); one to three years out of each decade will not see any 90 °F readings.
The coolest month, January, has a daily high of 52 °F (11.1 °C), with lows normally well above freezing (32 F).
The average window for freezing temperatures is from December 12 to March 11 (allowing a growing season of 275 days), between which there is an average of 21 nights with lows at or below the freezing mark.
 Extremes in temperature range from 6 °F (−14 °C) on January 21, 1985 up to 97 °F (36 °C) on June 27, 1952.

Snowfall is observed only occasionally, and usually very light.
Precipitation, mostly in the form of rain, is over 58 inches (1,500 mm) per year, making it the wettest coastal location in North Carolina.
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.
However, April and May represent a slightly drier season, while August to October are the wettest months.
On average, August is the wettest month, owing to high frequencies of both summer thunderstorms and tropical systems (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions) that affect the area, mostly from August to early October.

Due to its exposed position, Cape Hatteras is virtually the highest-risk area for hurricanes and tropical storms along the entire U.S. eastern seaboard.
 Cape Hatteras can experience significant wind and/or water damage from tropical systems moving (usually northward or northeastward) near or over North Carolina's Outer Banks, while other areas (i.e. Wilmington, NC or Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC to the south and Norfolk, VA and Maryland's Eastern Shore to the north) experience much less, minimal or no damage.
 The Cape Hatteras area is infamous for being frequently struck by hurricanes that move up the East Coast of the United States.
 The strike of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was particularly devastating for the area.
 Isabel devastated the entire Outer Banks and also split Hatteras Island  between the two small towns of Frisco and Hatteras.
NC 12, which provides a direct route from Nags Head to Hatteras Island, was washed out when the hurricane created a new inlet.
Students had to use a ferry to get to school.
The inlet was filled in with sand by the Army Corps of Engineers which took nearly two months to complete.
The road, electrical and water lines were quickly rebuilt when the inlet was filled.
On September 6, 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall at Cape Hatteras.
Cape Hatteras has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with long hot summers, and short cool winters. Most of the area falls into USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9. Cape Hatteras is surrounded by water, with Pamlico Sound to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The proximity to water moderates conditions throughout the year, producing cooler summers and warmer winters than inland areas of North Carolina. The cape is the northern limit of tropical fauna.
During the summer, average daily highs are in the 85 °F (29 °C) range, and occasional intense (but brief) thundershowers occur. As a result of its proximity to water, temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C) are rare, with an average of only 2.3 days annually above 90 °F (32 °C); one to three years out of each decade will not see any 90 °F readings. The coolest month, January, has a daily high of 52 °F (11.1 °C), with lows normally well above freezing (32 F). The average window for freezing temperatures is from December 12 to March 11 (allowing a growing season of 275 days), between which there is an average of 21 nights with lows at or below the freezing mark.  Extremes in temperature range from 6 °F (−14 °C) on January 21, 1985 up to 97 °F (36 °C) on June 27, 1952.
Snowfall is observed only occasionally, and usually very light. Precipitation, mostly in the form of rain, is over 58 inches (1,500 mm) per year, making it the wettest coastal location in North Carolina. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. However, April and May represent a slightly drier season, while August to October are the wettest months. On average, August is the wettest month, owing to high frequencies of both summer thunderstorms and tropical systems (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions) that affect the area, mostly from August to early October.
Due to its exposed position, Cape Hatteras is virtually the highest-risk area for hurricanes and tropical storms along the entire U.S. eastern seaboard.  Cape Hatteras can experience significant wind and/or water damage from tropical systems moving (usually northward or northeastward) near or over North Carolina's Outer Banks, while other areas (i.e. Wilmington, NC or Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC to the south and Norfolk, VA and Maryland's Eastern Shore to the north) experience much less, minimal or no damage.  The Cape Hatteras area is infamous for being frequently struck by hurricanes that move up the East Coast of the United States.  The strike of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was particularly devastating for the area.  Isabel devastated the entire Outer Banks and also split Hatteras Island  between the two small towns of Frisco and Hatteras. NC 12, which provides a direct route from Nags Head to Hatteras Island, was washed out when the hurricane created a new inlet. Students had to use a ferry to get to school. The inlet was filled in with sand by the Army Corps of Engineers which took nearly two months to complete. The road, electrical and water lines were quickly rebuilt when the inlet was filled. On September 6, 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall at Cape Hatteras.
Cape Hatteras