Wilmington, NC Water Temperature And Station 8658120
Use NOAA CO-OPS station 8658120 and NDBC identifier WLON7 for the downtown Cape Fear River. Keep its time-stamped river observation separate from Wrightsville Beach or open-ocean water, compare it with historical NWS climatology only as seasonal context, and refresh live conditions before acting.
- Official station reference
- NOAA CO-OPS station 8658120 at Wilmington, North Carolina; NDBC lists the same site as WLON7.
- Exact water
- The Cape Fear River at downtown Wilmington, not Wrightsville Beach and not an open-ocean sensor.
- Live-data boundary
- A water-temperature observation is useful only with its provider, station, timestamp, and current availability.
- Seasonal context
- NWS Wilmington publishes historical Cape Fear River climatology; it is not a substitute for the latest observation.
- Decision boundary
- Temperature alone does not determine the bite, beach water, navigation, access, or safety.
- Next measurement
- Recheck the target query and close variants on 2026-08-15.
Start With The Downtown Wilmington River Station
NOAA identifies station 8658120 at Wilmington, North Carolina, and NDBC identifies the corresponding station as WLON7. Use that station for downtown Cape Fear River context. Do not transfer its reading to Wrightsville Beach, nearby surf, or offshore water, because those are different waters and may report different conditions.
For the separate beach and fishing-planning intent, use Wrightsville Beach fishing conditions.
Read The Station And Timestamp Together
A current observation is a time-stamped snapshot, not evergreen copy. When TideCue receives a station water-temperature observation, keep the station identifier and observed time attached to the value. If the observation is missing or stale, follow the official source link and do not infer a replacement from air temperature, a distant buoy, or a different body of water.
Use Climatology As Historical Context
NWS Wilmington publishes average and distribution statistics for Cape Fear River water temperature at downtown Wilmington from a quality-controlled historical observation set. Those statistics can show how the river usually changes through the year, but a seasonal average does not describe the present river temperature or a beach temperature.
Keep River And Tide Context Local
NWS Wilmington explains that the lower Cape Fear at Wilmington is strongly influenced by tides and by downstream flow from inland North Carolina. That supports a local river context, not a universal rule that a particular tide stage will warm or cool the water by a fixed amount. Compare changing observations without promising a temperature response.
Do Not Turn Temperature Into A Fishing Guarantee
Water temperature can be one useful condition signal, but it does not decide the trip by itself. Check observation freshness, tide and water-level context, wind, weather, marine hazards, daylight, access, and the exact saved water. TideCue does not use one river reading to guarantee fish activity, safe conditions, or a successful catch.
Pair Water Temperature With Tide-Table Context
Station 8658120 also publishes tide and water-level products. Keep a predicted high or low separate from an observed water temperature, and keep both separate from tidal-current speed or slack. Confirm the date, time zone, datum, and product before comparing values.
For that interpretation step, use TideCue's guide to how to read tide chart signals.
Common questions
Where is Wilmington water-temperature station 8658120?
NOAA identifies station 8658120 at Wilmington, North Carolina. NWS Wilmington scopes its water-temperature climatology to the Cape Fear River at downtown Wilmington.
Is WLON7 the same Wilmington station?
NDBC lists WLON7 as station 8658120 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Read the station identifier and timestamp with every observation.
Does the Wilmington station show Wrightsville Beach water temperature?
No. Treat 8658120/WLON7 as a downtown Cape Fear River observation and use a source appropriate to Wrightsville Beach or the ocean for those waters.
What is the difference between a current observation and climatology?
A current observation is a time-stamped station reading. Climatology summarizes historical observations and provides seasonal context rather than the present value.
Does water temperature predict fishing success in Wilmington?
No. Use temperature as one condition signal alongside tide, weather, wind, marine hazards, access, and the exact water you plan to fish.