Charleston, SC weather in January
In January, Charleston sees highs around 58°F and lows around 44°F: cool, with some rain. There are about 8 days with rain. It is one of the coolest months in Charleston.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 44°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 59°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:22 am / 5:24 pm | 7:15 am / 5:51 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 10.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am43°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon56°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 pm48°Fdew point 40°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Intl Airport (11 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 46% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 43%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.6 in; a dry January brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20201999: average high 64°F
- Coolest January2018: average high 53°F
- Wettest January1991: 6.4 in
- Driest January2012: 0.5 in
- Highest reading78°F (January 29, 1999)
- Lowest reading20°F (January 7, 2014)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 58°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 44°F | 46°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 10.3 h | 11.0 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Jacksonville, FL197 mi · high 66°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC177 mi · high 52°F · 10 wet days
How Charleston ranks in January
- Normal high128th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days154th driest of 378
- Comfortable days113th most of 339
What to pack for Charleston in January
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 8 days
Heating and cooling
January has 442 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charleston in January?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 44°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 20°F (most recently on January 7, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in January?
About 8 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (6.4 in); the driest was in 2012 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Charleston in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.2 in.
Is January a good time to visit Charleston?
January ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (53 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Charleston City (USW00013782), 0.2 mi NNW of the city center, 10 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Charleston Intl Airport (USW00013880), 11 mi NW of the city center, 40 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Charleston AFB/International Airport (722080-13880), 11 mi NW of the city center, 39 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.