In terms of the weather, October is one of the best months of the year to visit Charleston. You can expect most days this month to bring warm, sunny weather, with average highs in the upper 70s, rising well into the 80s on the hottest days.
October weather is usually ideal for the full range of Charleston’s activities: sightseeing, hiking, nature-watching, visits to plantations and other outdoor attractions, and even watersports and the beach on the hotter days. The weather is still suitable for outdoor dining on warmer evenings, and on any cooler, overcast or rainy days there is plenty to see and do indoors.
You will usually need to pack warm-weather clothes for an October visit to Charleston, with an extra layer and a light jacket for cooler days and for cooler mornings and evenings. Consult the weather forecast immediately before traveling to see how hot it is likely to be during your visit.
An umbrella is usually a good idea too when visiting Charleston, together with insect repellent if you will be visiting nature sites, and sunscreen if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors.
October is hurricane season in Charleston, with a definite possibility of strong storms or hurricanes during the month. You may wish to purchase appropriate insurance if you will be booking travel ahead of time. In the event of dangerous weather during your visit, follow all local advice and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
See also:
– October festivals and events
– Visiting Charleston in the fall
– 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, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November or December
The daily maximum temperature in Charleston in October averages 77°F (25°C), with the lowest daily highs being around 60-68°F (15-20°C), up to around 82-88°F (28-31°C) on the warmest days.
The number of warmer days can vary somewhat from year to year. Some years, October can reach 82°F (28°C) on more than a third of its days; in other years, it might reach that temperature on only a handful of days. The temperature can stay below 75°F (24°C) on from 6-10 days or so each month.
Mid-morning temperatures in October are typically in the range of 55-80°F (13-27°C), with evening temperatures within a few degrees of morning ones. Overnight lows are usually around 50-75°F (10-24°C).
October is significantly less humid than the summer months, but it can still quite often feel somewhat humid.
Surface water temperature in October at the beaches near Charleston is around 75-80°F (23-28°C), warm enough for swimming or watersports on hotter days.
The average October in Charleston has 7 hours of sunshine each day. Rainfall for the month totals an average of 3.8 inches, with rain occurring on an average of 7-8 days.
October is generally a sunny month in Charleston. In the average October, you can expect around a half of days to be clear or mostly so all day long. Most of the rest of the month offers days of mixed weather: perhaps a partially cloudy sky, or a clear morning or afternoon interspersed with clouds.
The number of predominantly overcast days varies from year to year, from zero in exceptionally good years to around five days or so in a more average October.
The average UV index in Charleston in October is 6.
Average wind speeds in Charleston in October are 9-10mph, with 3-8 days each month still or mostly still, and 4-7 days on average where wind speeds may reach around 15mph or higher.
In October, the sun rises at around 7:15am at the beginning of the month and at 7:35am 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 7:10am at the end.
The sun sets at around 7:05pm at the start of the month, and at around 6:30pm by its end. It should be dark by around 7:30pm at the beginning of the month, and by 6:55pm at its end.
The amount of full daylight in October averages around 11 hours and 20 minutes per day, plus an extra 25 minutes of low light at the beginning and end of the day.