Charleston, SC Climate & Monthly Averages
Charleston has a humid subtropical climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 88° by day; January is the coldest at 58°.
Sunshine is a defining feature of Charleston's climate
Charleston averages 67°F (20°C) across the year, with 9.6 hours of sunshine a day and 51.6 inches (1310 mm) of precipitation. The spread runs from January, at 58°F (15°C), to July, at 88°F (31°C).
How sun, temperature and rain fit together
January bottoms out at 58°F (15°C) in daylight, 44°F (7°C) after dark. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 88°F (31°C), lows of 77°F (25°C). Sunshine averages 9.6 hours a day over the year, peaking in June at 11.6 hours.
Five of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is March through May. Days and nights are about 7°C apart on average - narrower than about 80% of the cities we track. Precipitation concentrates in August - 7.0 inches (177 mm) on 19 days - and thins out by March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 98°F (37°C) and the lowest daily minimum 11°F (-11°C).
More climate facts for Charleston
- Hottest month: July - highs near 88°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 58°F (15°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (37°C) high · 11°F (-11°C) low
- Wettest month: August (19 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 17°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 76%
The most comfortable sunny-weather window
Best time to visit Charleston
The best time to visit Charleston is generally February to May and October to November, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 71°F (22°C), with rain on about 9 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in February.
What to pack
Pack for Charleston with light clothing for the warm months, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Even in July, lows of 77°F (25°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 44° | 10 | 3.2 in | 7.6 h/day | 10.2 h | 31% | 73% |
| February | 62° | 48° | 9 | 3.3 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.0 h | 31% | 76% |
| March | 67° | 53° | 9 | 3.0 in | 8.9 h/day | 11.9 h | 29% | 72% |
| April | 73° | 59° | 8 | 4.3 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.0 h | 28% | 70% |
| May | 80° | 67° | 11 | 3.5 in | 11.5 h/day | 13.8 h | 35% | 73% |
| June | 85° | 74° | 16 | 4.8 in | 11.6 h/day | 14.3 h | 53% | 77% |
| July | 88° | 77° | 17 | 4.9 in | 11.5 h/day | 14.1 h | 55% | 78% |
| August | 86° | 76° | 19 | 7.0 in | 10.7 h/day | 13.3 h | 62% | 81% |
| September | 83° | 72° | 14 | 5.9 in | 9.9 h/day | 12.3 h | 46% | 79% |
| October | 76° | 63° | 7 | 3.7 in | 9.3 h/day | 11.3 h | 22% | 75% |
| November | 67° | 53° | 8 | 3.2 in | 8.2 h/day | 10.4 h | 27% | 75% |
| December | 62° | 49° | 9 | 4.8 in | 7.0 h/day | 10.0 h | 30% | 77% |
Charleston month by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Charleston's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 7.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
February
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
March
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 13.8 h
June
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
July
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
August
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.3 h
September
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 7.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Charleston's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Seasonal weather under Charleston's sunnier skies
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Charleston is mild and warm: 73°F (23°C) by day, 60°F (15°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer runs hot here - highs near 86°F (30°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 52 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)
Through fall, Charleston is mild and warm: 76°F (24°C) by day, 63°F (17°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Charleston is mild: 61°F (16°C) by day, 47°F (8°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
How unusual is Charleston?
- Charleston sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 67°F (20°C) as an annual average, 51.6 inches (1310 mm) of precipitation and 9.6 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Charleston temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.