The Climate of South Carolina

By | August 27, 2022

According to Abbreviation Finder, the state of South Carolina (SC) is located in the southeastern United States, on the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolina is geographically divided into four regions. The southeast of the state belongs to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Further inland you’ll find the Sandhills, a swath of ancient dunes that prove that South Carolina’s coastline lay deeper inland in the distant past. In the northwest of the state you will also find the Piedmond, a plateau that mainly consists of rolling green hills. The extreme northwestern tip consists of mountain area that belongs to the Blue Ridge Mountains. South Carolina has a Cfa climate according to the Köppen climate classification, which bears the term warm maritime climate. Because the mountains here do not reach higher than 1090 meters (Sassafras Mountain), the temperature differences within the state are not that big. The biggest contrasts in terms of temperature and weather can be seen in the winter, when it can sometimes get quite cold inland, while the thermometer on the coast simply remains above freezing.

Warm summers

Summers in South Carolina are warm, with average temperatures ranging from 29 to 33 degrees during the months of June, July and August. At night the mercury also remains at an average of 20 degrees in the summer, in the middle of the city it can be a few degrees warmer because the streets and buildings retain the heat for a longer period of time. Spring and autumn are also quite warm. March and November have an average maximum temperature of around twenty degrees and the averages in April and October are even around the summer limit of 25 degrees Celsius. South Carolina is sunny, with 2,700 to over 3,000 hours of sunshine on an annual basis. May, June and July are generally the sunniest months, January and February the bleakest. The latter is mainly due to the fact that the days are shorter in winter,

Precipitation

Precipitation falls fairly evenly throughout the year, on average 1100 to 1300 millimeters, spread over about 110 precipitation days. The summer months are somewhat wetter than the other months, which has to do with an increased chance of thunderstorms and the larger amounts of rain that fall in a summer shower compared to the milder winter showers. From June to December there is a chance of tropical depressions and storms, which can occasionally develop into a hurricane that skims over or around South Carolina. Such storms can cause a lot of damage and inconvenience, especially due to the strong winds and the large amount of precipitation that can fall from the sky within a relatively short period of time.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

maximum temperature minimum temperature hours of sunshine per day days of rainfall per month
January 12℃ -1℃ 6 10
February 15℃ 0℃ 6 9
March 19℃ 5℃ 8 10
April 24℃ 9℃ 9 8
May 28℃ 14℃ 9 10
June 31℃ 18℃ 9 10
July 33℃ 21℃ 9 12
August 32℃ 20℃ 9 11
September 29℃ 17℃ 8 8
October 24℃ 10℃ 8 7
November 19℃ 5℃ 6 8
December 14℃ 1℃ 6 9

The climate of Charleston

According to Countryaah, Charleston is located on the coast of South Carolina. The city is located at the mouth of several rivers, in a calm bay. It is a beautiful historic city, which is very popular with many tourists. Located on the east coast, it was one of the first settlers to settle and the city’s ancient history is well preserved. The large cotton plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries brought great prosperity and the plantation owners built large villas. The beautiful old houses bring you back to the atmosphere of the old south. Because Charleston was one of the first cities on the coast to allow religious freedom, the city is also home to many old churches of various denominations and even some synagogues. Charleston has since grown into one of South Carolina’s largest cities.

Charleston has a warm maritime climate. This climate is characterized by a considerable amount of precipitation throughout the year. The winter months are not very cold under the influence of the sea. The temperature drops only a few degrees below zero under the influence of the neighboring ocean. The summer months are hot and humid. The tempering influence of the sea ensures that it does not get terribly hot in the summer months. Average temperatures range approximately between 20°C and 30°C.

The climate of Colombia

The city of Columbia is derived from Christopher Columbus, the famous explorer of the fifteenth/sixteenth century. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is located fairly centrally in this state on the east coast of the US. Columbia has a warm maritime climate (type Cfa), with mild winters where significant frost does not occur very often, sunny springs with relatively high daytime temperatures, warm to hot summers with sometimes heavy thunderstorms and a warm autumn that still has many summer days. During an average winter, it comes to frost for 56 days. This is usually limited to (light) night frost. In winter there are snowfalls, although quite a few winters pass without snow. The average amount of snow per year is therefore only 5.3 centimeters. Some sunshine (2829 hours a year),

The climate of Greenville

Greenville is located in western South Carolina, on the foothills of the Appalachians. Greenville is the regional center of upstate South Carolina. The city has many entertainment options. There are many restaurants and several theaters and cinemas. Greenville itself has a number of theater companies, which regularly stage productions. In addition, there are many shops and a large number of museums. Greenville was one of the last towns to give way to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes. The house can of course still be seen in the city. For those who want to find peace in the hustle and bustle, there is the large Falls Park on the Reedy. This park is crossed by the river and has a number of beautiful waterfalls.

Greenville has a warm maritime climate. Due to the influence of the sea, the temperatures in summer and winter are less far apart than in a continental climate. In winter the temperature (in the months of December, January and February) drops a few degrees below zero and there may be some snowfall. However, very severe winters are rare in Greenville. The summer months are hot and humid. There can be heavy showers with some regularity throughout the year.

The climate of Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is located – the name says it all – on the beach in eastern South Carolina. This typical seaside resort has a very long, beautiful, wide beach, overflowing into low dunes. The coastline is dominated by high-rise hotels and apartment complexes for the tourists who come here to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. There is therefore plenty to do for the sun worshiper in Myrtle Beach. The many restaurants, bars and shops are mainly aimed at tourists. For the more sporty holidaymaker there are about 120 golf courses in Myrtle Beach. The city is also known as the golf capital of the world.

Myrtle Beach has a warm maritime climate. The weather is thus strongly influenced by the moderating effects of the sea. The temperature differences between summer and winter are small. The winter months are very mild and only in exceptional cases can snowfall occur. The summer months are warm, but humid. Although the temperature is fine, there can be frequent showers, even in summer. This is due to moist air that is brought in from the sea. Lightning storms and even tornadoes can also occur.

The climate of Spartanburg

Spartanburg is located in western South Carolina. Due to the great diversity of nature, the area was used by the original inhabitants as a hunting ground. Later, European fur traders and loggers came to the area. The rivers were used for their hydropower and cotton mills were built all along the banks. Remains of this early colonial period can still be found here and there in the city. Several mills still stand on the river, and the Hamptons Heights Historic district is one of Spartanburg’s best-preserved old neighborhoods. Today, car enthusiasts mainly know Spartanburg as the place where BMW produces a fair share of its cars.

Spartanburg has a warm maritime climate. Warm summers and mild winters characterize this climate, as well as a fairly high precipitation figure. The sea has a considerable influence, so that temperatures in summer and winter fall and rise less quickly and there is always a supply of moist air from the sea. In the winter baskets the temperature drops below zero only a few times. Severe winters are rare, but there can be some snowfall. In the summer months it is nice and warm. Unfortunately, these summer days are often ruined by a heavy rain shower. Huge thunderstorms are no exception.

Spartanburg South Carolina