Charleston, WV Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Charleston
Seasons are the whole story in Charleston. The gap between an average July and an average January is 22°C - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters - which in practice means 85°F (30°C) afternoons at one end of the calendar and 44°F (6°C) at the other.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 85°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 44°F (6°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 96°F (36°C) high · -13°F (-25°C) low
- Wettest month: July (15 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 22°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 9 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 2
- Average humidity: 72%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 44°F (6°C) by day, 28°F (-2°C) at night. At its warmest, in July, Charleston runs to 85°F (30°C) in the afternoon and back to 68°F (20°C) by dawn. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 96°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum -13°F (-25°C). Snow falls on roughly 9 days a year, mostly December through April.
Rain, sun and snow
Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 2 months, January through February. July is the wettest month at 5.3 inches (135 mm) over 15 days; November is the driest.
How Charleston compares
- Charleston sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 57°F (14°C) as an annual average, 52.0 inches (1320 mm) of precipitation and 8.5 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 28° | 13 | 4.2 in | 5.1 h/day | 70% |
| February | 50° | 31° | 13 | 5.2 in | 6.2 h/day | 68% |
| March | 57° | 37° | 13 | 4.3 in | 7.5 h/day | 66% |
| April | 66° | 46° | 13 | 4.3 in | 8.9 h/day | 68% |
| May | 74° | 56° | 16 | 5.2 in | 10.1 h/day | 76% |
| June | 81° | 63° | 14 | 4.8 in | 11.7 h/day | 75% |
| July | 85° | 68° | 15 | 5.3 in | 11.3 h/day | 77% |
| August | 83° | 66° | 14 | 4.6 in | 10.9 h/day | 78% |
| September | 79° | 61° | 8 | 3.7 in | 9.7 h/day | 75% |
| October | 69° | 51° | 9 | 3.3 in | 8.2 h/day | 72% |
| November | 57° | 39° | 10 | 2.9 in | 6.8 h/day | 69% |
| December | 50° | 34° | 13 | 4.0 in | 5.2 h/day | 72% |
Charleston month by month
Charleston weather in January
January brings highs around 44°F (6°C), lows near 28°F (-2°C), about 13 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days - typically the coldest month of the year in Charleston.
Charleston weather in February
February brings highs around 50°F (10°C), lows near 31°F (-1°C), about 13 wet days and roughly 3 snowy days.
Charleston weather in March
March brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 13 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.
Charleston weather in April
April brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 46°F (8°C), about 13 wet days.
Charleston weather in May
May brings highs around 74°F (23°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 16 wet days.
Charleston weather in June
June brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 14 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Charleston.
Charleston weather in July
July brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 68°F (20°C), about 15 wet days - typically the hottest month and the wettest month of the year in Charleston.
Charleston weather in August
August brings highs around 83°F (29°C), lows near 66°F (19°C), about 14 wet days.
Charleston weather in September
September brings highs around 79°F (26°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 8 wet days.
Charleston weather in October
October brings highs around 69°F (20°C), lows near 51°F (10°C), about 9 wet days.
Charleston weather in November
November brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 10 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Charleston.
Charleston weather in December
December brings highs around 50°F (10°C), lows near 34°F (1°C), about 13 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.
Seasons in Charleston
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Charleston is mild, with daytime highs averaging 66°F (19°C) and nights around 46°F (8°C); rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Charleston brings hot afternoons: 83°F (28°C) by day, 66°F (19°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 43 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 68°F (20°C), nights near 50°F (10°C), and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Charleston is brisk and cold, with daytime highs averaging 48°F (9°C) and nights around 31°F (-1°C); rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days, plus about 7 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is Charleston?
How many rainy days does Charleston get in a year?
How humid does Charleston get?
What should I wear in Charleston?
What is the average temperature in Charleston?
Best time to visit Charleston
April to June and August to October is the sweet spot for Charleston - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 75°F (24°C) in the afternoon and around 12 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Charleston with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in July, lows of 68°F (20°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Charleston temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.