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Charleston Weather

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Charleston weather is highlighted by mild winters and humid summers. The subtropical climate makes Charleston a perfect place to visit year round. On average, Charleston has 209 days of sunshine each year, with summer the wettest season and fall the driest season. 

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Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Charleston SC

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Month	High	Low	Water	Days with Precip.	Precip.	Hours of Sunshine
January	59°	38°	50°	9	3.7"	188
February	63°	41°	50°	9	2.9"	189
March	70°	47°	57°	11	3.7"	243
April	76°	53°	66°	8	2.9"	284
May	83°	62°	73°	14	3.0"	323
June	88°	70°	80°	10	5.7"	308
July	91°	73°	83°	15	6.5"	297
August	89°	72°	84°	12	7.2"	281
September	85°	67°	81°	10	6.1"	244
October	77°	57°	71°	6	3.7"	239
November	70°	47°	63°	7	2.4"	210
December	62°	40°	54°	8	3.1"	187

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The Four Seasons in Charleston SC

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Spring in Charleston

• Average temperatures: 54° F  to 76° F 
  
• Best time of the year to visit Charleston
• Azaleas and dogwoods blooming
• Cool nights and mornings
• Warm afternoons
• Pants and long-sleeve shirts in the morning and evening
• Shorts and short-sleeve shirts in the afternoon
• Bring a lightweight jacket

Summer in Charleston

• Average temperatures: 72° F  to 89° F
  
• Hot, humid summers with cool coastal breezes and afternoon storms
• July is the warmest month
• Summer is the rainiest season
• Bring lots of sunscreen and bottled water
• Pack plenty of cool clothing

Fall in Charleston

• Average temperatures: 57° F  to 77° F
  
• Clear blue skies with mild afternoon temps
• Cool Evenings
• September is a moderately wet month
• October and November are the driest months of the year
• Bring shorts and pants along with short and longsleeve shirts

Winter in Charleston

• Average temperatures: 40° F to 61° F 
  
• Typically mild winters
  
• Cool with periods of rain
• Snow flurries possible late December and early January

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Charleston SC Hurricanes

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Hurricanes are a major threat to the Charleston area during the summer and early fall. The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1st - November 30th. Although it is rare for the area to take a direct hit from a major hurricane, the area experiences beach erosion and flooding from passing storms. Charleston is only about 19 ft above sea level, so it does not take much to cause major flooding.

One of the strongest and costliest storms to hit the area was Hurricane Hugo on Sept. 21, 1989.  The storm slammed into Charleston Harbor around midnight as a category 4, gusting winds up to 140 miles per hour. The storm pushed a wall of water, as much as five ft high, across low-lying areas in Downtown Charleston, and swept some boats inland. Many homes were severely damaged or destroyed at the oceanfront, and the area in and around Charleston suffered mostly from wind damage, leaving three-quarters of the homes in Charleston's historic district damaged. The hurricane caused over $2.8 billion in damage.

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Earthquakes in Charleston SC

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On August 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolina was almost destroyed by a 7.5 earthquake. Major damage was reported as far away as Tybee Island, Georgia (over 60 miles away), and structural damage was reported several hundred miles from Charleston (including central Alabama, central Ohio, eastern Kentucky, southern Virginia, and western West Virginia). It was felt as far away as Boston to the North, Chicago, and Milwaukee to the Northwest, as far west as New Orleans, as far south as Cuba, and as far east as Bermuda. It damaged 2,000 buildings in Charleston and caused $6 million worth of damage, while in the whole city the buildings were only valued at approximately $24 million.

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