Right now in Wilmington, the air is about 74°F, but the model estimates the asphalt under your dog's paws is closer to 110°F — a gap of roughly 36°F, because clear skies are pouring full sun onto every dark surface. That reading puts Wilmington in the clear for an ordinary walk. Air temperature alone would have told you none of this — the pavement, not the forecast, is what your dog actually stands on.
Across the 12 hours left today, the pavement in Wilmington is projected to top out near 115°F around 2 PM, when the air will be about 76°F — a 39°F gap between the forecast your weather app shows and the surface your dog walks on. Today breaks into 2 separate safe stretches rather than one continuous window, so missing the first does not cost you the day.
In an average October, Wilmington sees highs around 75°F and overnight lows near 59°F. Those are forgiving numbers, but don't let them lull you — a sunny, still afternoon can still heat dark asphalt far above the air, especially for low-riding or short-coated dogs. For this month the normals suggest pavement rarely reaches unsafe temperatures here, but the seven-second hand test is still the final word on any given day.
Wilmington loses its all-day safe window in 6 months of the year — April through September — and October is not one of them. The year peaks in July at an average high of 87°F against 57°F in January, a 30°F swing that decides how much of the day belongs to your dog.
The nearest city we track is Fayetteville, roughly 77 miles from Wilmington — far enough that its reading is no substitute for this one. Sun angle, humidity and cloud cover can all differ across that distance, which is why this page models Wilmington on its own coordinates.
Whatever the number says, confirm it with your hand: press the back of it flat on the pavement for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there, neither can your dog. Conditions in Wilmington are on the gentler side right now, but keep the same habits: water before and after, grass over asphalt, and a close eye on flat-faced breeds, seniors, and puppies, who overheat and burn sooner than a healthy adult dog.