Charleston (SC) Sunshine Hours by Month

The amount of sunshine is fundamental to comprehending a place's climate. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America. The numbers reflect climate data gathered over a 30-year period, from 1990 to 2020.

Monthly hours of sunshine

If you're visiting Charleston, timing is key. In May, you can enjoy up to 295 hours of sunshine, while the shorter days of December provide just 170 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 2810 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means the city can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of May under a blue sky, with approximately 9.8 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in December, with only 5.7 hours of sunlight per day.

Average percent of sunshine

On average the sun shines 71% of the time during the day in April, the highest percentage of any month. December has the lowest percentage at 55%.

Charleston enjoys an average of 2810 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, Tromsø , Norway, receives only about 1270 hours of sunshine per year, known for the polar night with no sunlight for weeks during winter.

Toronto, Canada, sees around 2071 hours of sunshine each year, with especially long, bright summer days.

Adelaide, Australia, enjoys 2770 hours of sunshine annually, with long, sunny summers.

August, Charleston’s wettest month, receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 31°C (88°F). During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of 15°C (59°F).

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Charleston Precipitation page.