Februarys in Charleston are generally mild but can be variable. Average highs are in the low 60s, but there is a substantial range between the coolest days, which might be in the low 40s, and the warmest, when the temperatures can rise to the low 80s.
February weather can vary somewhat both from year to year and from day to day. Some years there might be many days of sunny, clear weather; other years might bring more overcast days. The typical February day is a mix of both: sunny spells interspersed with periods of cloud, and sometimes rain.
Despite the unpredictable weather, February is a popular month to visit. Charleston offers a wide range of indoor attractions for cooler or overcast days, and on warm, clear days, the weather can be ideal for seeing plantations and other local outdoor sights.
Ideally you should consult the weather forecast immediately before traveling for February visits to Charleston, but in general you will need to pack layers appropriate for a range of weather conditions. February can be breezy, so it may feel cooler than the temperature suggests.
See also:
– February festivals and events
– Visiting Charleston in the winter
– When is the best time of year to visit Charleston?
– Things to do during your visit to Charleston
– Charleston’s weather by month: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December
The daily maximum temperature in Charleston in February averages 63°F (17°C), with the lowest daily highs usually being around 42-50°F (6-10°C), up to around 77-82°F (25-28°C) on the warmest days. In an average year, you can expect the temperature to exceed 75°F (24°C) on 5 or more days each month.
Behind these averages, however, is some variation. In warmer Februarys, the maximum temperature may seldom fail to rise above 60°F (15°C), with the temperature reaching 75°F (24°C) on half of days. In cooler years, the opposite can be true: almost no days above 75°F (24°C), and many on which the temperature stays below 60°F (15°C).
In the morning, temperatures are typically in the range of around 40-75°F (4-24°C), depending on whether it is a warmer or a cooler day. Evening temperatures are broadly similar to morning temperatures. Typical night-time lows in February could be anywhere from 35-60°F (2-15°C).
The weather only occasionally feels humid in February.
Surface water temperature in February at the beaches near Charleston is around 60-64°F (15-19°C), which most people will find too cold for swimming.
The average February in Charleston has 6-7 hours of sunshine each day. Rainfall for the month totals an average of 3 inches, with rain occurring on an average of 8-9 days.
February in Charleston offers variable weather. The average February day brings a mix of cloudy and sunny spells: expect this sort of weather on around half of days this month.
The number of mostly sunny days in February varies somewhat from year to year: sometimes half of the month’s days are either clear or mostly sunny, sometimes as few as one day in four. The remaining days bring mostly overcast weather, often with periods of rain.
The average UV index in Charleston in February is 5.
Wind speeds in Charleston in February average around 11mph, with occasional calm days, and 10-12 days on average where wind speeds may reach around 15mph or higher.
In February, the sun rises at around 7:15am at the beginning of the month and at 6:50am at the end of the month. It begins to get light in the morning at 6:50am at the start of the month, and by 6:25am at the end.
The sun sets at around 5:50pm at the start of the month, and at around 6:15pm by its end. It should be dark by around 6:20pm at the beginning of the month, and by 6:40pm at its end.
The amount of full daylight in February averages around 11 hours per day, plus an additional 25-30 minutes of low light at the beginning and end of the day.