South Carolina Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Rock Hill
Summary
South Carolina endured its 5th warmest July on record in 2026, driven by persistent summer heat that pushed monthly temperatures nearly two degrees above the long-term baseline. The intense warmth coincided with a moderate El Niño in the tropical Pacific, which is intensifying and forecast to peak as a Very Strong event in autumn. Across the state, hot and dry conditions dominated as average daytime maximums climbed, with elevated heat expected to persist through late summer.
This month in numbers
The mean temperature for July 2026 reached 28.28°C, standing 1.9°C above the 1961-1990 average to secure 5th place out of 77 years of climate data. Daytime maximum temperatures averaged 34°C, an anomaly of +1.6°C that ranked 14th highest, while overnight minimums remained exceptionally high at 22.56°C. Rainfall across the state totalled 106.68 mm, which sits 28.6 mm below normal levels and ranks 54th driest on record. Over the three-month May to July season, the average temperature stood at 25.02°C, placing it 1.0°C above normal as the 19th warmest such period.
What changed
The state's warmer-than-average start to summer mirrored a broader global pattern, as global land temperatures recorded their 3rd warmest July on record (+1.6°C). Globally, the three-month period from May to July was the 2nd warmest in 87 years of measurements. Within its regional group, South Carolina was the top warm mover across the NOAA Southeast US climate region group (US Southeast), where the group average anomaly stood at +1.59°C. The three-month trend reflects a widespread regional heating pattern, consistent with South Carolina's long-term warming trend of +1.34°C since 1961.
What’s driving change?
Regional atmospheric conditions were shaped by recurring high-pressure that trapped warm air across the Deep South, while reduced evaporative cooling from agricultural land. On the global scale, climate patterns are interacting with a moderate El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, tracked live at ENSO. While historical teleconnections give El Niño only a modest 55% reliability for influencing winter weather in the southeastern United States, shifting Pacific sea-surface temperatures continue to alter atmospheric circulation patterns during the summer months.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts indicate that above-average temperatures are likely to continue across the region over the next 1-3 months as El Niño approaches its forecast peak.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – South Carolina
Köppen Cfa · TemperateSouth Carolina has a temperate climate (Köppen Cfa: Humid subtropical), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 27.5°C, while January is the coldest at 7.7°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1261mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – South Carolina
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – South Carolina
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – South Carolina
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – South Carolina
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – South Carolina
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Cfa · TemperateHow spring and autumn have shifted in South Carolina. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (16.7°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 19.7°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+3.3°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Climate Systems
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Emissions & Energy
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Data Sources
Data Sources for South Carolina
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in South Carolina changing?
South Carolina is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a temperate climate (Köppen Cfa: Humid subtropical), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 27.5°C, while January is the coldest at 7.7°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1261mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for South Carolina come from?
Climate data for South Carolina comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the South Carolina climate data cover?
The South Carolina climate profile covers Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and surrounding areas. South Carolina climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the South Carolina climate update refreshed?
The South Carolina climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the South Carolina climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the South Carolina climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.