Climate Insights for Charleston

The climate in Charleston is temperate. The average annual temperature is 14°C and approximately 1329mm of precipitation falls per year. Charleston receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Charleston is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -1°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Temperatures in Charleston vary considerably across the year, with a 31°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 30°C and the mean temperature sits around 25°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -1°C and the daily average is 2°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 6°C shift in average temperatures.

Charleston is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1329mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 111mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 139mm of rainfall. May and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is November, with just 77mm. That's 62mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 35cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 12cm.

Charleston is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 15km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 18km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 11km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 7km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 17km/h in winter, 16km/h in spring, 12km/h in summer, 14km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Charleston, which began on March 20, 2026. Charleston is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 30°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -1°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 92 days from now.

The best time to visit Charleston is during August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 91mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 30°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -1°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Charleston based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.