In this post, I cover the weather in Charleston, SC in December, including average temperatures and precipitation.
December in Charleston provides cool afternoon weather with mostly cold nights.
As a retired meteorologist turned tour guide, I didn't expect that I would use my experience as a forecaster in my new career in tourism.
But here I am, finding myself answering more weather questions as a blogger than I ever did as a weatherman.
So, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the weather in Charleston in December.
How Cold Is Charleston in December
Daytime high temperatures during December tend to be near 65-66 F (18-19 C) early in the month, cooling gradually to 59-60 F (15-16 C) near the end of the month.
A few of the warmer afternoons, especially early in the month, can reach up near 75 F (24 C).
The record high temperature in Charleston during December is 81 F (27.2 C).
Late night and early morning lows tend to be around 50 F (10 C) early in the month, falling gradually to around 43 F (6 C) by the end of the month.
One or two of the colder mornings, especially late in the month, can dip down near 31-32 F (-1 to 0 C) with the record low temperature during December being 5 F (-15 C).
Sun and Rain
Charleston sees, on average, about 9 sunny, 7 partly sunny, and 14 mostly cloudy days this month.
Some rain occurs, on average, on 8-9 days, however, only 2 days normally see rainfalls of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) or more.
Snow is rare during December with the last measurable snowfall occurring in December 1989.
Daylight
The number of daylight hours decrease slightly this month from about 10.1 hours on the 1st to just under 10 hours on the 21st.
Windspeed
Wind speeds this month will mainly be gentle at 8-12 mph (12-19kph), however, at times will be moderate at 13-18 mph (20-28 kph).
What to Wear in Charleston in December?
Fall weather prevails here most of the month but can, at times, be a bit winter-like, especially near the end of the month.
Autumn attire works best this month so you should pack long-sleeve tops, a few sweaters, jeans or other long pants, boots plus a medium-weight jacket or coat.
Things to Do in Charleston During December
The chance of snow is very minimal during December, but it won't necessarily be warm either.
Even so, if you manage to visit on a dry day, you might want to consider a free Charleston walking tour.
Since it is the holiday season, there will be plenty of Christmas events to enjoy in Charleston.
You can expect a variety of lighting displays, as well as a tree-lighting ceremony.
You can also expect a lot of fun indoor activities, including theatrical shows such as The Nutcracker, the Charleston Holiday Spectacular, the Charleston Christmas Special, and more.
For even more ideas, make sure to read our full post covering things to do in Charleston during December.
Fred Pickhardt
