Early spring can be a great time to visit Charleston if you are happy to be flexible about your activities. The average high this month is around 70 degrees, but the region’s winter variability in weather has not yet quite departed.
On March’s cooler days, the temperature may not get out of the 60s, but there can also be many days where the thermometer reaches the upper 70s and even the 80s. A typical March day usually brings at least some sunny weather: sometimes a perfect, clear day, and other times a mix of clouds and sunny spells. Through March, rain and overcast weather is always a possibility.
For March vacations, it is often best not to schedule too much in advance, visiting indoor attractions such as museums or historic houses on wet or cooler days, and enjoying the best of Charleston and the lowcountry’s outdoor sights when it is warm and sunny.
Consult the weather forecast immediately before traveling in order to decide what to pack, but in general you should plan on bringing several layers, with a light to medium jacket for cooler days and evenings.
By March, Charleston’s UV index is getting high, and it is advisable to bring a high-factor sunscreen. Insect repellent is also useful, particularly if you will be traveling outside of the city or enjoying nature-based activities. Finally, in Charleston’s subtropical climate, it is always best to pack an umbrella!
See also:
– March festivals and events
– Visiting Charleston in the spring
– When is the best time of year to visit Charleston?
– Things to do during your visit to Charleston
– Charleston’s weather by month: January, February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December
The daily maximum temperature in Charleston in March averages 70°F (21°C), with the lowest daily highs being around 46-54°F (8-12°C), up to around 82-86°F (28-30°C) on the warmest days.
In an average year, you can expect the temperature to exceed 75°F (24°C) on 5-12 days each month, and to remain below 65°F (18°C) on between one in four days in warmer Marches and one in two days in cooler ones.
In the morning, temperatures are around 40°F (4°C) on the coolest days, up to around 75°F (24°C) on the warmest days, with evening temperatures typically a few degrees cooler. Night-time lows are similarly varied, usually in the range of around 30-60°F (-1 to 15°C).
The weather may sometimes feel humid in March, but most of the time humidity will be within comfortable levels.
Surface water temperature in March at the beaches near Charleston is around 61-64°F (15-19°C), which most people will find too cold for swimming, but will be warm enough for some watersports on warmer days.
The average March in Charleston has 8 hours of sunshine each day. Rainfall for the month totals an average of 3.7 inches, with rain occurring on an average of 8 days.
A typical day in Charleston in March offers a mix of cloudy and sunny spells, occasionally with a chance of rain. Day-long sun is also reasonably common through the month, with around a third of days being sunny in the average March (although this figure can vary somewhat from year to year). Up to around a quarter of March days can be mostly overcast, often with rain for at least part of the day.
The average UV index in Charleston in March is 7.
Wind speeds in Charleston in March average 10-11mph. Completely calm days are rare, and on average, wind speeds reach around 15mph or higher on 12-15 days.
In March, the sun rises at around 6:40am at the beginning of the month (one hour later after Daylight Saving Time begins) and at 7:10am at the end of the month. It begins to get light in the morning at 6:20am at the start of the month (an hour later after Daylight Saving Time begins), and by 6:45am at the end.
The sun sets at around 6:15pm at the start of the month (an hour later after Daylight Saving Time begins), and at around 7:40pm by its end. It should be dark by around 6:40pm at the beginning of the month (one hour later after Daylight Saving Time begins), and by 8pm at its end.
The amount of full daylight in March averages around 12 hours per day, plus an additional 20-25 minutes of low light at the beginning and end of the day.