Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Charleston, South Carolina Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Charleston weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Charleston, SC
Sunday, July 5 at 7:13 AM
79
°
Clear
Feels like
90°
Humidity
94%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
2:17 AM
Sunset
4:31 PM
Charleston, SC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCharleston, SC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 78 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit with a 33% chance of precipitation at 4 PM.
L 78°H 94°
Charleston, SC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Drizzle
    33%
    0.03″
    94°78°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    12%
    —
    95°80°+1°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    25%
    —
    98°80°+3°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Thunderstorm
    25%
    —
    99°80°+1°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    19%
    —
    101°80°+2°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    18%
    —
    101°82°0°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    39%
    —
    97°82°-4°
Charleston, SC
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°74°86°98°6a12p6p12anow 79°high 94°low 78°PRECIP %
Charleston, SC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
239° · backing 20°
Direction
WSW
239°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
19
avg 6
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 · pk 19 @ 11:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 286SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 20° from the wsw.
Charleston, SC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1014.6
+0.4 mb in 3h · steady · 29.96 inHg
Now
1014.6
mb
3h
+0.4
mb
12h
-0.2
mb
24h
-3.2
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1014–1018
1010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1018.01014.21014.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
Charleston, SC
Air quality
24
AQI
Good
→-4 in 6h▲Peak ~39 @ 5 PM

AQI 24 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±4 points). PM2.5 at 6.7 µg/m³ (AQI 37) with a 0.80 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 5 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
6.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
5μg/m³
OzoneModerate
65μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 31 now. With UV 0.3 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 7 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 31
UV peak
0.3 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 7

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 6.7 µg/m³ (AQI 37) with a 0.80 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.80
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Charleston, SC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
25.5mi
UNLIMITED
56 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
11:13 UTC · Charleston, SC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
11:13 UTC · Charleston, SC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Charleston, SC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Charleston, SC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Charleston, SC
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:49 AM
Sunrise
2:17 AM
Daylight
14h 14m
Sunset
4:31 PM
Civil dusk
9:01 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Charleston, SC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
73% illuminated
Moonrise
11:33 PM
Moonset
11:32 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Charleston, SC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Charleston at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 79°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: March 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 29401, 29403, 29406, 29407, 29409, 29412, 29414, 29424 +2 more

15-Day Forecast — Charleston

  1. Sun94°78°33%
  2. Mon95°80°12%
  3. Tue98°80°25%
  4. Wed99°80°25%
  5. Thu101°80°19%
  6. Fri101°82°18%
  7. Sat97°82°39%
  8. Sun101°81°49%
  9. Mon93°75°40%
  10. Tue93°70°28%
  11. Wed94°73°17%
  12. Thu95°75°43%
  13. Fri93°75°42%
  14. Sat86°75°55%
  15. Sun90°76°31%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Charleston

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Charleston

SPC includes Charleston in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

July is Charleston's warmest stretch (~81°F) and January its coldest (~51°F); precipitation crests in August at 6.8 inches and ebbs in April to 2.5 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January51°4.0″17
February53°3.4″14
March58°4.0″15
April65°2.5″14
May73°2.7″17
June79°4.4″22
July81°6.3″26
August81°6.8″28
September77°5.0″22
October70°2.7″15
November60°2.5″13
December54°3.3″16

Regional context

Charleston's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 51°F Januarys with 81°F Julys — a 30°F swing. About 47.6 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 218 days a year.

Summer convection drives Charleston's precipitation: August logs 6.8 inches on 27.6 rainy days, against April's 2.5 inches on 14.3 — warm-season storms carry Charleston's moisture. That summer-storm rhythm groups Charleston with places like James Island, SC, Hanahan, SC and Sullivan's Island, SC.

Charleston rarely sees a hard freeze — its coldest month sits near 51°F — so planting spans most of the calendar. Heat peaks in July around 81°F, which confines cool-season crops to the shoulders of summer. Within Charleston, low or inland lots lose 3-5°F overnight versus Charleston's coastal ground.

Similar climates: James Island, SC, Hanahan, SC, Sullivan's Island, SC, North Charleston, SC, Mount Pleasant, SC.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds returning from their winter grounds, their metallic calls echoing through Charleston's gardens.

Southern magnolia trees begin their spectacular bloom cycle in late May, releasing their lemony fragrance across the city's neighborhoods.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Charleston?
Frost typically leaves Charleston by mid-March and returns to Charleston near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Charleston?
Charleston sees its heaviest rain in August (around 6.8 inches), part of roughly 48 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Charleston?
Charleston peaks in July, when the mean runs near 81°F.
What is the coldest month in Charleston?
January is Charleston's coldest month, averaging about 51°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Charleston?
Around mid-March, start frost-hardy crops in Charleston; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Charleston get?
Charleston records around 218 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Charleston?
Because Charleston bottoms near 51°F in January, that winter low sets Charleston's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Charleston?
Charleston's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Charleston?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Charleston in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Charleston?
Current conditions for Charleston and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Charleston forecast updated?
The Charleston forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Charleston?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Charleston are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Charleston?
The next few days in Charleston's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a humid subtropical zone, Charleston, South Carolina swings from 51°F in the heart of winter to 81°F at midsummer — a 30°F arc.

In a typical year Charleston records about 48 inches of precipitation on around 218 days.

Charleston's 30°F range, set by its 32.8°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Charleston.

All cities in South Carolina →

ZIP codes in Charleston

  • 29414
  • 29424
  • 29425
  • 29455
  • 29405
  • 29407
  • 29401
  • 29403
  • 29409
  • 29492
  • 29412
  • 29402
  • 29413
  • 29417
  • 29422
  • 29457

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.