Myrtle Beach, located on South Carolina’s Atlantic coast, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, brief winters. The area boasts abundant sunshine, warm ocean waters, and moderate rainfall year-round. These inviting conditions make Myrtle Beach a popular destination for beachgoers, golfers, and outdoor enthusiasts throughout all seasons.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Myrtle Beach’s climate is shaped by its coastal location, resulting in four distinct but gentle seasons. Summers (June–August) are hot, humid, and sunny, with average highs of 31–33°C and warm nights around 22–24°C. July and August are the hottest months, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and humidity often above 75%. Sunshine is abundant, with an average of 218 sunny days per year and up to 10 hours of sun daily in peak summer. Rainfall is highest in summer, with July and August each receiving over 170 mm, but storms are usually brief and followed by clear skies. The Atlantic Ocean remains warm, with water temperatures reaching 27–28°C, perfect for swimming and water sports.
Winters (December–February) are mild and short, with average highs of 15–17°C and lows of 2–6°C. Snow is rare, averaging just 2–3 cm annually, and most winter precipitation is rain. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring pleasant temperatures (20–28°C), moderate rainfall, and fewer crowds. April is the driest month, averaging 69 mm of rain, while September is the wettest with up to 154 mm. Winds are generally light to moderate (15–20 km/h), with occasional breezy days during storms. Myrtle Beach receives about 1,232 mm of precipitation annually, spread over 107 days, and enjoys a long beach season from late spring through early autumn.
| Average climate data for Myrtle Beach, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 12 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 31 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 5 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 5 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 26 | 39 | 38 | 55 | 66 | 68 | 76 | 113 | 85 | 49 | 43 | 68 | 728 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 167 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 77 | 74 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 76 | 79 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 78 | 76 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 16 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 21 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 36 | 40 | 37 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 32 | 41 | 31 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is from late April to early June and September to October, when temperatures are warm, humidity is moderate, and rainfall is lower. These months offer ideal conditions for beach outings, festivals, and outdoor activities, with fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is during the peak of summer (July–August), when heat, humidity, and frequent thunderstorms can make outdoor activities less comfortable. Hurricane season (June–November) also brings the risk of storms, though direct impacts are rare. Winter is mild but less suitable for classic beach activities.
Myrtle Beach has a humid subtropical climate with hot, sunny summers, mild winters, and moderate rainfall throughout the year. The city enjoys over 215 sunny days annually and a long beach season from late spring to early autumn.
Late April to early June and September to October are best for beach weather, with warm temperatures, fewer crowds, and lower rainfall. Water temperatures are ideal for swimming during these periods.
Snow is extremely rare in Myrtle Beach, averaging just 2–3 cm per year. Most winter precipitation is rain, and any snow that falls usually melts quickly due to mild temperatures.
Summer highs average 31–33°C, with July and August being the hottest months. Humidity is high, and afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, but ocean breezes help moderate the heat.
Myrtle Beach receives about 1,232 mm of precipitation annually, with the wettest months being July, August, and September. Rainfall is well-distributed, but summer storms are usually brief and intense.
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer, and layers for spring or autumn. Bring a rain jacket for summer storms and a jumper or jacket for cool evenings, especially in winter.
Myrtle Beach is in the Atlantic hurricane zone, with hurricane season from June to November. Direct hits are rare, but travellers should check forecasts and consider travel insurance if visiting during late summer or autumn.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (30.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (12.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 21.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (24.5 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (5.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 15.5 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (28.2 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (14.3 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 21.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (113.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (26.4 mm). Over the whole year there are 727.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (19.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (9.6 days). Over the whole year there are 166.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 4 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is August (79.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (73.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (16.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (12.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (40.7 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is June (24.3 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 31.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 10.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 5.1 h). Over the whole year there are 7.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 7). The month with the lowest average UV index is January (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.2.
