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Charleston in May: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Charleston in May is climatically well suited to beach holidays, family holidays and city breaks. The average daily high is around 29 °C, and the sea is about 23 °C. With about 12 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
75/100 · #3
Warmth
#5
Dryness
#8
Sun
#2
Sea warmth
#6
Published best categories: Overall, Beach, Family
Charleston · MayPhoto: Something Original ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 29 °C
- Average low
- 18 °C
- Sea
- 23 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 12 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 8 h/day
- Humidity
- 73 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 24 | 13 | 9 | 82 | 7.3 | 75 | 1.4 | 19 | 78 |
| May (selected) | 29 | 18 | 12 | 86 | 7.8 | 73 | 1.3 | 23 | 75 |
| June | 31 | 22 | 18 | 139 | 7.9 | 76 | 1.2 | 26 | 58 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: May (75/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | +3 | -4.4 °C | -4.9 °C | -3 | -4 mm | -0.5 h | +1.9 % | +0.1 m/s | -4 °C |
| June | -17 | +2.7 °C | +4.1 °C | +5.8 | +53.8 mm | +0.1 h | +2.4 % | -0.1 m/s | +3.5 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Charleston in May?
The average daily high is around 29 °C, with an average daily low of about 18 °C.
Can you swim in Charleston in May?
The sea is about 23 °C (swimmable).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in May?
The curated estimate is about 12 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 86 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Charleston?
By the climate score, April, May, October and November are the strongest months for Charleston. For a beach trip: May, June, September and October. May is one of them.