Charleston weather by month
Average highs run from 60°F in January to 91°F in July, and January nights average 39°F. It gets 52 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are March to May and October to November.
Best time to visit Charleston
For comfortable weather, go in March to May and October to November. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60°F | 39°F | 3.4 in | 0.2 in | 6 | 0 | 9 | cool |
| February | 64°F | 42°F | 3.1 in | 0.1 in | 5 | 0 | 4 | mild days, chilly nights |
| March | 70°F | 47°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 0 | 2 | mild |
| April | 77°F | 55°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 1 | 0 | warm |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 5 | 0 | warm |
| June | 89°F | 70°F | 6.2 in | 0.0 in | 8 | 14 | 0 | hot |
| July | 91°F | 74°F | 6.6 in | 0.0 in | 9 | 21 | 0 | hot |
| August | 90°F | 73°F | 7.0 in | 0.0 in | 9 | 17 | 0 | hot |
| September | 85°F | 68°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 6 | 0 | warm |
| October | 78°F | 58°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 1 | 0 | warm |
| November | 69°F | 47°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in | 4 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| December | 63°F | 42°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 6 | mild days, chilly nights |
| Year | 77°F avg | 56°F avg | 52.5 in | 0.3 in | 74 | 64 | 22 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Charleston Intl. Airport, SC (USW00013880), 8 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Charleston
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 59m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 14h 19m. The earliest sunset comes around December 1 (5:12 pm) and the latest around June 22 (8:31 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 112 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 am | 5:36 pm | 10h 14m |
| February | 7:03 am | 6:05 pm | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:30 am | 7:27 pm | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:50 am | 7:49 pm | 13h 00m |
| May | 6:20 am | 8:11 pm | 13h 51m |
| June | 6:11 am | 8:29 pm | 14h 18m |
| July | 6:22 am | 8:28 pm | 14h 06m |
| August | 6:43 am | 8:04 pm | 13h 21m |
| September | 7:03 am | 7:25 pm | 12h 22m |
| October | 7:24 am | 6:46 pm | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:50 am | 5:18 pm | 10h 28m |
| December | 7:15 am | 5:14 pm | 10h 00m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Charleston with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Eastern Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Charleston getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.4°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Charleston.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Charleston?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 91°F and an average low of 74°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Charleston?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 39°F and highs of 60°F.
What is the rainiest month in Charleston?
August gets the most precipitation, 7.0 inches on average. November is the driest at 2.7 inches.
Does it snow in Charleston?
Very little. The normal yearly snowfall is under one inch.
When is the best time to visit Charleston?
For comfortable weather, March to May and October to November. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Charleston?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Charleston profile.
Compare the weather: Charleston vs North Charleston, Charleston vs Mount Pleasant, Charleston vs Savannah, Charleston vs Columbia.