Playability Score: 86/100 — Good
Current conditions: 85°F, wind 10 mph, 1% chance of rain.
Updated July 9, 2026
Charleston has a humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. Afternoon storms are common in summer; spring and fall are ideal. Coastal breezes moderate heat. Hurricane season can bring rain and wind from June through November.
In Charleston, the single most important tee-time decision isn't which course to play — it's what time you tee off. From June through August, afternoon thunderstorms roll in with enough regularity that a 7 a.m. slot is genuinely better insurance than any rain jacket. August averages 25 precip days, and July highs hit 88°F with lows that only drop to 77°F overnight, meaning even morning rounds feel heavy. The math changes dramatically once you leave summer behind.
Outside those three months, the pressure eases. October is the driest month at just 10 precip days, and highs average 76°F — comfortably inside the 60–80°F ideal range without requiring an early alarm. Spring brings reliable warmth but also Charleston's windiest stretch; April peaks at 14.6 mph on average, which can push approach shots around on the exposed Lowcountry layouts. Winter is mild enough to play anytime, though January lows of 44°F call for patience until mid-morning.
Highs climb from 67°F in March to 80°F by May, landing squarely in ideal range for most of the season. The catch is wind: April is the single windiest month of the year at 14.6 mph, with March close behind at 14.4 mph — both consistently above the calm threshold. Precip days hold steady at 11 per month in March and April before ticking up to 14 in May, so morning windows are generally reliable but afternoon slots carry increasing storm risk as summer approaches.
July's average high of 88°F combined with a low of 77°F means heat and humidity linger through dawn. June already sees 20 precip days, and August reaches 25 — the wettest month in Charleston — with afternoon convective storms forming most days. If you're playing in summer, book before 9 a.m. and plan to be off the course by early afternoon; the storms don't care about your back nine.
October averages just 10 precip days, the fewest of any month, and highs of 76°F sit right in the middle of the ideal scoring range. Wind drops to 12.5 mph average, calmer than anything spring offers. November extends the good stretch with 11 precip days and highs of 67°F, though lows at 53°F mean layers are useful for early rounds.
January and February highs reach 58–62°F, which is playable, but lows of 44–48°F make early tee times uncomfortable. Both months carry a 14-degree daily swing and average winds of 13.8–14.2 mph — the windiest readings outside of spring. Precip days run 11–12 per month, spread evenly, so there's no obvious week to target; check the forecast and aim for a 10 a.m. start once temps have climbed.
October leads with only 10 precip days and a 76°F average high, the driest and one of the most comfortable months on the calendar. November comes close with 11 precip days and stays above 67°F at midday. March offers similar precip days (11) with highs of 67°F, though its 14.4 mph average winds are the one drawback compared to fall's calmer conditions.
Book before 9 a.m. in June, July, and August. Afternoon thunderstorms are the norm — August averages 25 precip days and July averages 23, with most activity building in the early afternoon. An early start also gets you off the course before the 88°F July highs peak.
The numbers support it: October has only 10 precip days, the fewest of any month, and an average high of 76°F that sits in the middle of the ideal temperature range. Winds average 12.5 mph, calmer than any spring month. There's no single best week — the whole month is solid, so any open slot is worth taking.
Windier than most golfers expect. March and April average 14.4 and 14.6 mph peak winds respectively, the highest readings of the year, and Lowcountry courses with open marsh exposure amplify the effect. Club up, and factor wind direction into any shot over water — especially on southeast-facing holes where sea breezes compound afternoon gusts.