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James Island, South Carolina Weather

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

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

James Island, SC
Sunday, July 5 at 8:04 AM
84
°
Clear
Feels like
96°
Humidity
83%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
2:17 AM
Sunset
4:31 PM
James Island, SC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastJames Island, SC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 80 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit with a 23% chance of precipitation at 3 PM.
L 80°H 92°
James Island, SC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    23%
    —
    92°78°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    12%
    —
    92°80°0°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Drizzle
    30%
    —
    93°79°+1°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Thunderstorm
    30%
    —
    95°81°+2°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Thunderstorm
    15%
    0.13″
    91°78°-4°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    16%
    —
    93°80°+2°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Mostly Clear
    39%
    —
    97°82°+4°
James Island, SC
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°76°86°96°6a12p6p12anow 84°high 92°low 80°PRECIP %
James Island, SC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
228° · backing 35°
Direction
SW
228°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
9
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 @ 12:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 324SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 35° from the sw.
James Island, SC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1015.3
+0.4 mb in 3h · steady · 29.98 inHg
Now
1015.3
mb
3h
+0.4
mb
12h
+1.6
mb
24h
-2.1
mb
Regime · FAIR
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1014–1017
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1017.41013.71015.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Fair, steady air — a quiet anticyclone holds the sky.
James Island, SC
Air quality
25
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h▲Peak ~43 @ 6 PM

AQI 25 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI projected to climb to 43 over the next 6 hours. PM2.5 at 7.4 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.81 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 6 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
7.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
4μg/m³
OzoneModerate
74μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 35 now. With UV 2.7 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 12 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 35
UV peak
2.7 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 12

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.4 µg/m³ (AQI 41) with a 0.81 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.81
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
James Island, SC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
33.0mi
UNLIMITED
47 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
12:04 UTC · James Island, 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
12:04 UTC · James Island, SC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
James Island, SC
Satellite · infrared · animated
James Island, SC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
James Island, 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
9:00 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
James Island, SC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
73% illuminated
Moonrise
11:32 PM
Moonset
11:32 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
James Island, SC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

James Island at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 3 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — James Island

  1. Sun92°78°23%
  2. Mon92°80°12%
  3. Tue93°79°30%
  4. Wed95°81°30%
  5. Thu91°78°15%
  6. Fri93°80°16%
  7. Sat97°82°39%
  8. Sun99°82°48%
  9. Mon88°77°38%
  10. Tue88°76°29%
  11. Wed91°75°20%
  12. Thu87°74°43%
  13. Fri81°76°42%
  14. Sat85°75°55%
  15. Sun91°79°31%
  16. Mon94°81°35%

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

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 — James Island

SPC includes James Island 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 James Island'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

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, James Island sees 51°F Januarys and 81°F Julys, a 30°F range, plus around 47.6 inches of precipitation across 218 days.

Precipitation in James Island runs summer-dominant: August averages 6.8 inches across 27.6 days of warm-season storms, while April drops to 2.5 inches over 14.3 rainy days of drier cool air. That summer-storm rhythm groups James Island with places like Folly Beach, SC, Charleston, SC and Sullivan's Island, SC.

Freezes are uncommon in James Island, where the coldest month averages 51°F; cool-season crops grow fall through spring. Summer heat in July (about 81°F) is the binding constraint, not cold. Across James Island, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in James Island's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Folly Beach, SC, Charleston, SC, Sullivan's Island, SC, Mount Pleasant, SC, Kiawah Island, SC.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in James Island?
Frost typically leaves James Island by mid-March and returns to James Island near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in James Island?
James Island sees its heaviest rain in August (around 6.8 inches), part of roughly 48 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in James Island?
James Island peaks in July, when the mean runs near 81°F.
What is the coldest month in James Island?
January is James Island's coldest month, averaging about 51°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in James Island?
Around mid-March, start frost-hardy crops in James Island; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does James Island get?
James Island averages about 218 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is James Island?
Since January in James Island averages 51°F, James Island's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for James Island?
James Island'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 James Island?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for James Island in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in James Island?
Current conditions for James Island and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the James Island forecast updated?
The James Island forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in James Island?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for James Island 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 James Island?
The next few days in James Island's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of James Island, South Carolina carries typical Januarys near 51°F and Julys around 81°F — 30°F of seasonal travel.

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

James Island sits at 32.7°N; that 30°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across James Island.

All cities in South Carolina →

Charleston, SC weather →

ZIP codes in James Island

  • 29412

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.