The best times to visit South Carolina for ideal weather are

March 12th to May 27th

or

September 17th to November 4th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other South Carolina Travel Info

Weather in South Carolina

Temperature

Average temperatures in South Carolina vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very nice much of the year, but hot in the summer and cold in the winter with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 54th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit South Carolina, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 91.7°F (33.2°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 73°F (22.8°C) at night.

South Carolina Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Carolina Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

South Carolina Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Carolina Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average South Carolina Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 56.1 45 36.1
Feb 58.8 47.2 37.7
Mar 67.1 55.1 45.1
Apr 75.8 64.1 53.4
May 82.3 71.5 61.9
Jun 89.4 78.8 69.8
Jul 90.6 80.3 72.1
Aug 89.2 79.3 71.5
Sep 84.5 74.3 66.2
Oct 75.5 64 54.5
Nov 65.8 53.8 44
Dec 60.8 50.1 41.5

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 13.4 7.2 2.3
Feb 14.9 8.4 3.2
Mar 19.5 12.8 7.3
Apr 24.3 17.8 11.9
May 27.9 21.9 16.6
Jun 31.9 26 21
Jul 32.6 26.8 22.3
Aug 31.8 26.3 21.9
Sep 29.2 23.5 19
Oct 24.2 17.8 12.5
Nov 18.8 12.1 6.7
Dec 16 10.1 5.3

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in South Carolina are October, November, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early November. For example, on the week of November 5th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid July with an average of 1 days of significant precipitation the week of July 9th.

When can you find snow in South Carolina? Weather stations report a good amount of seasonal snow likely to be deepest around March, especially close to early to mid January. The best time to ski (if at all) in South Carolina is often around around February 12th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in South Carolina.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in South Carolina (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 6% 1.7 1
Feb 8% 2.5 1.1
Mar 7% 2.6 1.3
Apr 7% 0 1.1
May 6% 0 1.1
Jun 7% 0 1.4
Jul 8% 0 1.8
Aug 8% 0 1.8
Sep 6% 0 1.3
Oct 5% 0 1.2
Nov 5% 0 1
Dec 8% 1.4 1.6

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 6 4.3 2.5
Feb 8 6.4 2.8
Mar 7 6.6 3.3
Apr 7 0 2.8
May 6 0 2.8
Jun 7 0 3.6
Jul 8 0 4.6
Aug 8 0 4.6
Sep 6 0 3.3
Oct 5 0 3
Nov 5 0 2.5
Dec 8 3.6 4.1

 

Humidity and Wind

South Carolina has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is March (55.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is August (70.3%).

Wind in South Carolina is usually calm. The windiest month is April, followed by March and February. April’s average wind speed of around 5.6 knots (6.4 MPH or 10.3 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 12.8 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in South Carolina.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 4.9 Light breeze 11.2 Significant breeze
Feb 5.3 Light breeze 12 Significant breeze
Mar 5.5 Light breeze 12.2 Significant breeze
Apr 5.6 Light breeze 12.3 Significant breeze
May 4.9 Light breeze 11.2 Significant breeze
Jun 4.5 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Jul 4.4 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Aug 3.8 Barely noticeable 9.8 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.1 Light breeze 9.8 Significant breeze
Oct 4.4 Light breeze 10 Gentle breeze
Nov 4.4 Light breeze 10.2 Significant breeze
Dec 4.4 Light breeze 10.3 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 57.5%
Feb 56%
Mar 55.9%
Apr 56.9%
May 62.8%
Jun 64.4%
Jul 67.3%
Aug 70.3%
Sep 68.9%
Oct 65.7%
Nov 62.8%
Dec 66.6%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to South Carolina?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in South Carolina, United States is February, followed by June and July. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit South Carolina in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 62.9 in November means 62.9% of the tourists vs. February.

 

 

Overall South Carolina Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 86°F (30°C) and 60.3°F (15.7°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with roughly 2 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 2 to 3 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in South Carolina, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 87.6°F (30.9°C) and 63.4°F (17.4°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: approximately 2 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in South Carolina to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 61.5°F (16.4°C) and 55.4°F (13°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: consistently 2 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › South Carolina, United States