Climateby Month

Charleston vs Columbia weather

Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC · 106 mi apart

July highs: 88°F in Charleston, 96°F in Columbia (Columbia is 8°F warmer). January highs: 58°F and 60°F (Columbia is 2°F warmer). Charleston has about 102 wet days a year, Columbia about 109. Muggy days: about 137 a year in Charleston, about 106 in Columbia. Snow: 0.3 in a year in Charleston, 1.2 in in Columbia.

Charleston, SC

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 44°F (7°C) 58° 44° February: normal high 60°F (16°C), low 46°F (8°C) March: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 52°F (11°C) April: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 60°F (16°C) May: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 68°F (20°C) June: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 74°F (23°C) July: normal high 88°F (31°C), low 77°F (25°C) 88° 77° August: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 77°F (25°C) September: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 73°F (23°C) October: normal high 76°F (24°C), low 63°F (17°C) November: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 53°F (12°C) December: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 47°F (8°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: April

Columbia, SC

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 60°F (16°C), low 37°F (3°C) 60° 37° February: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 40°F (4°C) March: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 46°F (8°C) April: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 54°F (12°C) May: normal high 87°F (31°C), low 62°F (17°C) June: normal high 93°F (34°C), low 69°F (21°C) July: normal high 96°F (36°C), low 72°F (22°C) 96° 72° August: normal high 94°F (34°C), low 71°F (22°C) September: normal high 89°F (32°C), low 66°F (19°C) October: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 54°F (12°C) November: normal high 69°F (21°C), low 44°F (7°C) December: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 39°F (4°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: March, November

Which city for what

  • Cooler summers: Charleston (July high 88°F vs July high 96°F)
  • Less humid: Columbia (106 muggy days vs 137 muggy days)
  • Longer growing season: Charleston (321 frost-free days vs 245 frost-free days)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high CharlestonAvg high ColumbiaWet days CharlestonWet days Columbia
Winter (Dec-Feb)60°F62°F2528
Spring (Mar-May)72°F80°F2226
Summer (Jun-Aug)86°F94°F3433
Fall (Sep-Nov)75°F79°F2222

Side by side over a year

CharlestonColumbia
Hot days (90°F+)24108
Freezing nights633
Muggy days137106
Comfortable days9596
Precipitation44.3 in45.2 in
Snowfall0.3 in1.2 in
Frost dateslast Feb 4, first Dec 30last Mar 16, first Nov 16
Daylight in June / December14.3 h / 10.0 h14.4 h / 9.9 h
Best monthsAprilMarch, November

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh CharlestonHigh ColumbiaWet days CharlestonWet days Columbia
January58°F60°F810
February60°F64°F89
March66°F72°F89
April72°F81°F78
May79°F87°F79
June84°F93°F1111
July88°F96°F1212
August86°F94°F1210
September83°F89°F98
October76°F80°F77
November67°F69°F67
December61°F61°F99

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Charleston, SC: temperature from Charleston City (USW00013782), 0.2 mi NNW of the city center; precipitation from Charleston City (USW00013782). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Columbia, SC: temperature from Columbia Univ Of Sc (USC00381944), 0.9 mi SE of the city center; precipitation from Columbia (USW00013883). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.