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Best time to visit Charleston: month by month
Short answer
March to May and October to November are the best times, with highs of about 21–27°C in spring and 19–24°C in autumn, and only 6–8 rainy days a month in October and November. Summer is hot and humid, with highs around 29–31°C and 19–25 rainy days in June to August, plus hurricane season. Spring is also the busiest and most expensive season.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | 10 | low |
| Feb | 18°C | 9°C | 10 | medium |
| Mar | 21°C | 12°C | 8 | high |
| Apr | 24°C | 14°C | 7 | very high |
| May | 27°C | 18°C | 13 | very high |
| Jun | 29°C | 22°C | 19 | high |
| Jul | 31°C | 24°C | 25 | medium |
| Aug | 30°C | 24°C | 23 | medium |
| Sep | 28°C | 20°C | 13 | medium |
| Oct | 24°C | 15°C | 6 | high |
| Nov | 19°C | 11°C | 7 | high |
| Dec | 17°C | 9°C | 9 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from about 21°C in March to 27°C in May, with 7–13 rainy days a month; azaleas in bloom and the busiest, priciest period.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Highs of 29–31°C, lows of 22–24°C and frequent afternoon thunderstorms (19–25 rainy days a month); beach season and hurricane risk.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Highs fall from about 28°C in September to 19°C in November; October has only about 6 rainy days, and hurricane risk ends in November.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs of about 15–18°C and lows of 6–9°C; quiet, cooler and the cheapest time for hotels.
Events worth planning around
- Southeastern Wildlife Exposition — February
- Charleston Wine + Food festival — March
- Cooper River Bridge Run — late March or early April
- Spoleto Festival USA — late May to early June
When to avoid
Avoid August and September if you dislike heat and storms, as this is the peak of the hurricane season with frequent thunderstorms. If you want lower prices, avoid spring weekends and the Spoleto Festival weeks.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Charleston?
April, May and October offer warm days and fewer rainy days than summer, though spring is busy and expensive.
Is Charleston too hot in summer?
It is hot and humid, with highs of about 29–31°C and frequent storms. Sightsee early and late in the day.
When is Spoleto Festival USA?
Usually from late May to early June. Book accommodation early for those weeks.