HILTON HEAD'S WEATHER
For most people, Hilton Head's weather helps make it a pleasant place to visit throughout the year. However, your personal preferences may make some times of the year more appealing than others.
We have summarized Hilton Head's weather patterns to help you make the best possible choices concerning when to visit.
OUR GENERAL CLIMATE
DECEMBER, JANUARY
AND FEBRUARY
MARCH AND APRIL
MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
October is the first of two months of "Indian Summer," which many also consider to be the most pleasant time of the year. It is warm and dry, with many sunny days and cool nights. November still has pleasant temperatures, and is the driest month of the year... almost assuring good weather for golf, tennis, bicycling, walking or just enjoying the outdoors.
According to the Weather Bureau, Hilton Head's latitude places it just on the edge of the balmy sub-tropical climate enjoyed by Florida and the Caribbean Islands. Consequently, our climate normally is characterized by quite mild winters and hot summers.
For us, the large amount of surface water in the area produces what often is referred to as a marine climate. The result is a moderation of cold spells in winter and hot spells during the summer, and a reduction in the daily range of temperature.
Distance from the ocean is very important in the summer because of the sea breeze phenomenon. During the summer, the land heats up very rapidly during the first sunlit hours while the water temperature rises very little. As the air over the land warms and rises, it is replaced by denser air from over the water...and the sea breeze begins.
The sea breeze normally begins before noon, and continues until late afternoon. Hilton Head's summer maximum temperatures normally would be several degrees higher if it were not for the sea breeze. Note that the sea breeze affects all of Hilton Head, although its effect is most noticeable along the beach. Unless an overall weather system brings us westerly wind, an unusual situation, our beaches usually are pleasant even on the hottest of days.
Most outdoor activities, such as golf, boating, fishing, hiking on the beach or on bike and nature trails, and sunning can be enjoyed during our winters, but the water and air are too cold for swimming except in heated pools. The average winter day has an early morning temperature of about 40 degrees, and an afternoon maximum around 60 degrees. The temperature of coastal waters is in the lower 50s.
The sun shines about 57% of the time during daylight hours, or about six hours a day. Only about on day in five will have 1/10 or more of rain. Sleet and snow are very rare, but will occur every few years.
The second half of February often has weather more spring-like than that described here.
These months are a transition period when rapid warming takes place. The typical March day has a minimum temperature in the middle forties, and an afternoon high in the upper sixties. In April, the average minimum increases to the middle fifties and the average maximum to the upper seventies. The resort season officially begins in March, but air and water temperatures normally are not warm enough for ocean swimming until April. The average water temperature increases from 59 degrees in March, to 67 in April, to 75 in May.
March, April and May are considered by many to be the most pleasant time of the year on Hilton Head. Our many flowering plants help make spring here genuinely beautiful. There also are more planned activities in the spring than at any other time, including our month-long Springfest in March and The Heritage golf tournament in April.
Hilton Head's summer effectively begins sometime in May, although the calendar claims that it starts in late June. The average maximum temperature rises to the lower 80s, making May just about a perfect beach month. Average highs in June, July and August are in the upper 80s, then decline to the lower 80s again in September.
Rainfall is relatively heavy during these months, but occurs mostly as showers. As a result, the percentage of possible sunshine during the long days is in a very favorable 65% to 70% range.
The average October day has a morning low temperature in the high fifties, and an afternoon maximum in the high 70s. November highs and lows are about ten degrees cooler. The ocean's temperature averages 73 degrees in October, then 63 degrees in November.
