Charleston’s climate is subtropical which means mild winters and warm summers. The city sees 230 days of sunshine each year. Spring is the best time to visit Charleston because of its colorful azaleas, dogwoods, and other flowers that bloom between March and June.

Summer is warm but there are cooling coastal breezes. Autumn brings sunshine, blue skies, and cooler temperatures. Winters are mild with rain and occasional snow flurries in late December or early January. Spring and autumn are by far the best times to visit Charleston. There are fewer crowds; the temperatures are perfect; and room rates are slightly lower.

January is the coldest month of the year in Charleston. Despite this, Charleston winters are generally enjoyable with the average low temperature not falling any lower than 38°F (3°C). The average high temperature to be expected is 59°F (15°C).

In February, the temperatures go up to an average high of 63°F (17°C) and an average low of 41°F (5°C).

Charleston Weather in March : The climate starts to get warmer in March as the average high temperature increases to 70°F (21°C). Meanwhile, the average low temperature 47°F (8°C) also makes a slight increase to.

April continues to see an increase in average temperatures as Spring reaches its peak. Average high and average low temperatures range between 76°F (25°C) and 53°F (12°C).

In May, Charleston receives the most sunshine out of the year at 323 hours. The average high temperature makes another jump to 83°F (28°C), while the average low temperature increases nearly ten degrees to 62°F (17°C).

Charleston Weather in June: Things begin to really heat up in June with the arrival of summer. Temperatures easily hit the high 80’s with an average high temperature of 88°F (31°C). Evenings bring much more manageable temperatures with average lows of 70°F (21°C).

Month Average High (°F) Average Low (°F) Average Precipitation (inches)
January 58 39 3.7
February 61 42 3.4
March 67 48 3.6
April 75 55 2.8
May 82 63 3.6
June 87 71 5.5
July 89 74 6.9
August 89 73 7.2
September 84 68 5.7
October 76 58 3.3
November 68 49 2.7
December 60 41 3.4

July is the hottest month of the year with the average high temperature peaking at an incredible 91°F (33°C). The average low temperature also increases a few degrees to 73°F (23°C).

In August, Charleston receives the most rain annually, hitting 7 inches (182 mm) of rainfall. The high precipitation rates also come with a decrease in the heat, with the average high and average low temperatures ranging between 89°F (32°C) and 72°F (22°C).

Charleston Weather in September: Despite the arrival of fall, temperatures in September remain quite warm. The average high temperature peaks at 85°F (29°C) while the low temperature is 67°F (20°C).

October brings a welcome drop in average high and average low temperatures which hover at 77°F (25°C) and 57°F (14°C) respectively.

In November, the average high temperature makes another big drop to 70°F (21°C). The average low temperature sinks by ten degrees to 47°F (9°C). Meanwhile, November also sees the lowest precipitation rates in the entire year with rainfall averaging at 2 inches (62 mm).

Charleston Weather in December: Charleston gets the least sunshine annually in December. The winter season is marked by another drop in temperature with the average high temperature settling at 62°F (16°C). The low temperature average is 40°F (5°C).

The best time to visit South Carolina to enjoy nature and its lush gardens is any time between the months of March and May. When it comes to South Carolina’s many gorgeous beaches, it’s best to visit during June or July, while the month with the least crowds at the beach is September. For the best of the state’s festivals, come by during the peak seasons of September through November. If, however, you’re looking for the best deals, January and February are the best times to visit.

Resources:
NOAA
AMS

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