Hilton Head Island, SC weather in January
Expect cool weather with some rain in Hilton Head Island in January, with highs near 60°F and lows near 40°F. Rain falls on about 9 days. It is one of the coolest months in Hilton Head Island.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 40°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 61°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:24 am / 5:29 pm | 7:17 am / 5:55 pm |
| Daylight | 10.1 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 am44°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am48°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon56°Fdew point 40°F
- 3 pm59°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 40°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Beaufort MCAS (19 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 46%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F9 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 snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below8 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry January brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202017: average high 68°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 55°F
- Wettest January1998: 7.1 in
- Driest January2003: 0.3 in
- Highest reading83°F (January 1, 2019)
- Lowest reading18°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 | 63°F | 60°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 40°F | 43°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 11 | 9 | 11 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 10.3 h | 11.1 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Jacksonville, FL141 mi · high 66°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Athens, GA193 mi · high 55°F · 11 wet days
How Hilton Head Island ranks in January
- Normal high96th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days177th driest of 378
- Comfortable days81st most of 339
What to pack for Hilton Head Island in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 40°F, highs near 60°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Heating and cooling
January has 463 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Hilton Head Island in January?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 40°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 18°F (January 7, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Hilton Head Island in January?
About 9 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (7.1 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.3 in).
Is January a good time to visit Hilton Head Island?
January ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Hilton Head Island (56 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Beaufort MCAS (USW00093831), 19 mi N of the city center, 37 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Beaufort MCAS (722085-93831), 19 mi N of the city center, 37 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall and snow depth (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).