Charleston (SC) Temperature by Month
The average annual maximum temperature in Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America is 24°C (75°F), with daytime highs ranging from 15°C (59°F) in January to 32°C (90°F) in July. This page covers monthly averages, day-night differences, and how Charleston compares to cities worldwide.
Charleston Monthly Temperatures
The climate in Charleston is known for significant temperature differences throughout the year. At night, this contrast is just as clear, with lows ranging from 24°C (75°F) in July to 5°C (41°F) in January.
The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in Charleston by month:
The minimum temperature is often recorded between 4 AM and 6 AM, while the highest temperature is usually reached at 3 PM, when the sun's heating effect is strongest. July, the warmest month, gets 288 hours of sunshine.
The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:
Daily Historical Temperatures
50-year average (1976-2025)
Average high and low temperatures for each day of the month based on long-term records.
Average temperatures in July
Historical Charleston Temperatures: 1976-2026
Browse day-by-day temperature records for Charleston spanning 51 years. Select any month and year to see actual high and low temperatures recorded on each day.
Temperature: Charleston vs the United States of America
The map below shows the annual temperature across the United States of America. You can also select individual months if you want to compare a specific time of year.
very warm
warm
pleasant
moderate
cold
very cold
Charleston vs World: Temperature Compared
Charleston's average annual maximum temperature is 24°C (75°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:
Rome, Italy averages 20°C (68°F) annually, with reliably warm summers and comfortable winters.
Interlaken, Switzerland averages 8°C (46°F) a year, with cold winters and cool summers thanks to its Alpine setting.
New York City, USA averages 17°C (63°F) a year, with hot humid summers and cold winters that bring regular snowfall.
Perth, Australia averages 25°C (77°F) annually, with a classic Mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters.
What Does the Temperature Feel Like in Charleston?
Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story — humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.
In Charleston, January is the coolest month, with average highs of 15°C (59°F) and humidity around 69% — considered high. In July, the warmest month, temperatures average 32°C (90°F) with 76% humidity — conditions that feel high. For a full picture, see our humidity page.
Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.
The readings come from a range of sources — land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.
For cities and regions with significant elevation, altitude is one of the biggest factors shaping local temperatures. As a rule of thumb, temperatures fall by around 6°C for every 1,000 metres gained — so a city at 2,000 metres will typically be around 12°C cooler than a city at sea level in the same region. Higher ground also tends to see more dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, since thinner air loses heat faster after sunset.
For more on Charleston's weather — including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity — visit our Charleston climate page.
