Charleston is at its most pleasant from late March to early May, and again from mid October to early November. For sun, aim for mid May to early June; for walking, go from mid November to mid April.
When to go five ratings · thirty-six ten-day sections · click a cell to read it
The sun season here runs from mid May to early June, with a second spell in mid and late September. It peaks in early June, at 62. The weakest stretch is from mid November to mid February, when it drops to 1, mostly because it is too cool. The clearest skies come in April, when the sky is typically 39% covered at midday (partly cloudy).
For being outside, go from late March to early May, with a second spell from mid October to early November. It peaks in late April, at 77. Avoid late June to July for this: it falls to 3, mostly because it is too hot.
The walking season here runs from mid November to mid April. It peaks in late November, at 75. The weakest stretch is from late June to early September, when it drops to 0, mostly because it is too warm.
The year, measured
The average temperature in Charleston over the whole year is 19°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 31°C; January is the coldest, with lows of about 7°C. Charleston has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 57% in October, the driest month, to 60% in August, the wettest. Winds in Charleston are highest in March, averaging 3.3 m/s (12 km/h), and lightest in August, at 2.5 m/s (9 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the W. The clearest skies in Charleston come in April, when the sky is typically 35% covered; December is the cloudiest month, at 48%.
Month by month Charleston climate by month: average temperatures year round · click a month to read it
| Month | High | Low | Feels like | Chance of rain | Cloud | Wind | Being outside | Sun | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13°C | 7°C | 10°C | 58% | 43% | 2.7 m/s | 24 | 2 | 56 |
| February | 17°C | 10°C | 14°C | 58% | 47% | 3.0 m/s | 45 | 6 | 66 |
| March | 19°C | 12°C | 16°C | 57% | 43% | 3.3 m/s | 55 | 9 | 67 |
| April | 23°C | 15°C | 21°C | 57% | 35% | 3.3 m/s | 71 | 27 | 54 |
| May | 26°C | 20°C | 26°C | 58% | 40% | 3.2 m/s | 51 | 54 | 24 |
| June | 29°C | 23°C | 31°C | 60% | 42% | 2.9 m/s | 18 | 55 | 4 |
| July | 31°C | 25°C | 34°C | 60% | 39% | 2.6 m/s | 4 | 35 | 0 |
| August | 30°C | 24°C | 33°C | 60% | 44% | 2.5 m/s | 8 | 41 | 1 |
| September | 28°C | 22°C | 30°C | 59% | 43% | 2.8 m/s | 25 | 56 | 9 |
| October | 24°C | 17°C | 24°C | 57% | 38% | 2.6 m/s | 61 | 43 | 39 |
| November | 19°C | 12°C | 16°C | 58% | 42% | 2.7 m/s | 51 | 12 | 66 |
| December | 15°C | 9°C | 12°C | 59% | 48% | 2.7 m/s | 36 | 3 | 62 |
High and low are the warmest and coolest of four readings a day — midnight, 6am, noon and 6pm — so a true overnight low can sit a degree or two under them. Chance of rain, cloud and wind are the day’s average; feels-like and the three ratings (each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80) are read at midday.
Seasons, and the year in short Charleston weather by season
Year round, Charleston has days of about 13°C at their warmest in January, its coolest month, and 31°C in July, its warmest; the coolest hours of the day run from 7°C to 25°C through the year, and the average temperature over the year is 19°C around the clock. Rain is most likely around August and least likely around October. Every figure here is a decade of observations blended into one representative year, so it reads as what this date is usually like, not a forecast for one particular day.
Charleston weather in winterDecember to February
Winter in Charleston has typical daily highs of about 15°C and lows of about 9°C, with a 58% chance of rain on a given day.
Charleston weather in springMarch to May
Spring in Charleston has typical daily highs of about 23°C and lows of about 15°C, with a 57% chance of rain on a given day.
Charleston weather in summerJune to August
Summer in Charleston has typical daily highs of about 30°C and lows of about 24°C, with a 60% chance of rain on a given day.
Charleston weather in autumnSeptember to November
Autumn in Charleston has typical daily highs of about 24°C and lows of about 17°C, with a 58% chance of rain on a given day.
When is the rainy season in Charleston?
Charleston has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 57% in October, the driest month, to 60% in August, the wettest.
What time of year is Charleston windiest?
Winds in Charleston are highest in March, averaging 3.3 m/s (12 km/h), and lightest in August, at 2.5 m/s (9 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the W.
What is the average temperature in Charleston year round?
The average temperature in Charleston over the whole year is 19°C. July is the hottest month, with highs of about 31°C; January is the coldest, with lows of about 7°C.
Where to go instead in early July, the weakest time here for being outside
How this is worked out
Every figure is a decade of weather-station observations blended into one typical year, in ten-day sections. The ratings, the chart and the feels-like column are read at midday local solar time. Being outside is the Easy outdoors rating, Sun is Sunbathing and Walking is Active outdoors, each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80. They describe what a time of year is usually like here, not a forecast. The dotted links open the map at that time of year; set its time of day to midday to see these numbers.