Hilton Head Island Weather Year-Round

Planning to visit Hilton Head Island?

Whether you’re looking to have an awesome adventure with your family and friends, enjoy a romantic getaway with your special someone, or a quiet getaway for some self-care, Hilton Head Island is the perfect place to be.

With its amazing beaches and beautiful golf courses, it’s no wonder Hilton Head Island has received so many awards and accolades both locally and internationally.

So if you’re planning to visit soon, we have compiled a month-by-month guide for you on Hilton Head Island’s weather to help you pick out the best month for your vacation.

January

January is a bit cold for the beach unless you’re from New England. High temperatures are typically below 60°F, although there are often days when the temperature rises to reach the 70’s. If you’re visiting in January, plan on the temperature being in the low 60’s in the afternoon.

Although rainfall in January varies from year to year, prepare for heavy rainstorms when you visit. But don’t worry, it is not always wet. According to records, some years are drier at this time of the month.

The average sunlight on Hilton Head Island around this month is around 10 hours and 19 minutes – shorter than most months – but you can go ahead and plan your daytime activities. Since it’s a little cold to take a dip in the ocean, you can opt to watch snowbirds instead, go for a bike ride or hit the nature trails.

February

February is mostly cool weather with sunshine. Temperatures usually climb between 60°F to 67°F and fall between 40°F and 45°F. It can go as high as 80°F, although that happens very rarely.

If you’re visiting this month, you can expect less rain and clouds compared to January. You will also have more time for your activities since the average length of sunlight would have increased to 11 hours and 3 minutes. 

At this time, snowbirds keep the island restaurants busy … especially for early-bird dinner. If you’re willing to eat dinner at 5 or 6 o’clock, look for the early dining menu at most Hilton Head Island restaurants.

March

Spring break can bring the families back. During this month, the island warms more quickly. The temperature is usually mild and fairly cool, making days at the beach great for activities that don’t require a swimsuit. Hilton Head is in full swing with festivals. Come join the fun!

This month is great for the outdoors since the sky is typically clear and you can enjoy around 12 hours of sunlight. You can expect around 30 percent cloud cover, at most. The weather is also usually dry so if you’re thinking of taking a dolphin cruise, kayaking, and bike riding, this is the perfect month to do that. Not too hot and not too cold for the outdoors.

April

April is the sunniest month in Hilton Head Island, so good news to those who are planning to visit. After Easter, the weather starts to get really nice, and the best thing is, everything is open but there are no crowds (except for Heritage weekend.)

You can enjoy very fine weather all throughout the month. Aside from having more sunlight, there is little humidity. You can bask in the sunlight for an average of almost 13 hours a day.

The snowbirds are slowly heading back up north and families with small kids may be meandering around, but it  won’t be crowded and those little ones need to get to bed early. So, enjoy a nice dinner out without a huge wait time at any one of fabulous restaurants on the island.

May

Just like the previous month, Hilton Head Island has excellent weather in May. It is one of the least rainy months on the island, so no need to worry about heavy rainstorms. The warm weather and very light rainfall make this coastal town an ideal vacation spot. Though somewhat humid, nights do get as low as 40 °F, so you can still enjoy cool nights.

Sunlight in May has lengthened to around 13 hours and 49 minutes a day on average, so you will have additional time to enjoy the outdoors.

If you’re planning to visit, it is best to come early in the month so you can fully enjoy the beach while the crowds still haven’t arrived.

June

If you were not able to book a vacation in April or May, no worries, you can still get a taste of the warm weather in June. It is best to visit just after Memorial Day to the middle of June. During this time, the weather is summer-like but the crowds aren’t out in force quite yet.

Sunlight at this time of the year averages 14 hours and 13 minutes a day, the longest of the year. Although there is still a lot of sunshine during this month, brace yourself as well for afternoon rainfall and a bit of heavy wind as well as tropical storms may start to arrive.

But don’t fret, June is still a good time to visit. It is very unlikely for a major hurricane to arrive at this time of the year. Just update yourself with the current weather on the island so you can prepare.

July

July is the hottest month of the year on Hilton Head Island. The temperature rarely goes as low as 60°F during this month. In fact, it has only happened two times in 10 years! Usually, the temperature peaks around 90°F, and take note: it is going to be humid. So if there’s not much of a breeze, it will feel HOT. 

But hot means you will have great days at the beach … especially when there’s a bit of cloud cover. So go ahead and pack your swimsuits. On average, the temperatures in the evenings fall between 72 and 75°F, which is tolerable.

Be aware, though, that July is the busiest month on the island. This is the time of the month that the beachgoers and families come in to take over the beaches. If you’re the type who doesn’t like too much company, don’t be discouraged. The crowds are never overwhelming with over 12 miles of beach acess you can find a quiet spot.

Storms or hurricanes are a possibility during this month, but no major hurricanes are expected. 

August

If you like the heat but would like to avoid the crowds, August is a good month to visit, particularly after the middle of the month when families with kids in school will be home getting ready for the new school year.

However, be aware that the weather at this month is not as comfortable as other summer months. Sure, you will still enjoy the hot and humid weather, but according to records, this is also the month with the biggest amount of rain. So gear up for more frequent heavy rainfall as well as tropical storms.

September

September is a good time to visit Hilton Head Island. You can still enjoy the hot summer weather around this time, but there should be fewer rains by now compared to the earlier month. And although it is still hot, with a maximum temperature of 82°F to 86°F, the days are beginning to cool down quickly.

At this time, families with kids that aren’t in school (young children or homeschooled) usually visit the beaches, but the beach won’t be as crowded as the previous months.

Storms may approach the island at this month, and there’s also a tiny chance that a hurricane may come by for a visit. But most days, you will still be able to enjoy clear or cloudy skies. Length of sunlight during this time has gone down to an average of 12 hours and 20 minutes – a bit shorter but still long enough to enjoy your planned activities.

October

October is golfer’s month – it is the month that golfers find most appealing on the island. Temperatures at this time are in the 70°F to 80°F range, with tons of sunshine. It is slightly humid at this time, though, with the relative humidity peaking at 87 percent in the mornings.

As the weather continues to cool down, the days are also getting shorter. The average hours in a day would be around 11.5 hours, although, at the end of the month, it will be shortened to just 11 hours on average.

Not much rain this month but there is still the possibility of having a tropical storm or a hurricane. In general, though, the weather is usually fine, so it’s still a good time to plan your trip.

November

If you’re looking to have a comfortable and awesome time on the island, you should be planning your visit in November. This month offers lovely fall weather. There are not many leaves to turn – mostly evergreen.

November is recorded to be one of the driest months on Hilton Head Island with the island basking in the sun on most days. Visitors can enjoy clear skies coupled with cooler temperatures, between 50°F to 70°F.

Days have become a lot shorter this time – an average of 10 hours and 30 minutes. With the comfortable weather, you can maximize your time during the day as well as enjoy Hilton Head Island’s nightlife. You should be happy to know that storms and hurricanes have pretty much cleared up during this month, making it the perfect time to visit.

December

Weather is predictably cooler in December. The hottest weather you can experience during wintertime ranges between 58 and 65°F. The minimum temperature can be anything between 38 and 47 °F. A few times, the temperature can go as low as 32°F, but it rarely gets as cold as 20°F. Generally, you will experience mild temperatures and less humidity, but the best thing is, the skies are mostly clear throughout the month, so it will be a great time to go outside.

Enjoy the holiday festivities at Shelter Cove when you visit. Snowbirds also start to arrive just in time for the holidays.

While it is ideal to visit Hilton Head when the weather is at its best during summertime, this doesn’t mean that the other months are less than perfect. Every month and season can be the perfect time depending on what you are planning to do. You can even have a spur-of-the-moment trip to Hilton Head. It’s a known fact that unexpected trips sometimes give you the best experiences. Our Hilton Head airports are always ready to bring you here.