If you’re planning a trip to the Hostess City, you’ve probably heard the horror stories about the humidity. It’s thick. It’s heavy. Sometimes, it feels like you're breathing through a warm, wet washcloth. But honestly, looking at savannah weather by month reveals a much more nuanced picture than just "it's hot." There are weeks in October where the air is so crisp it feels like a different planet, and there are January mornings where the Spanish moss is literally covered in frost.
People think Georgia is just an endless summer. That’s a mistake. Savannah is a subtropical coastal city, meaning its weather is dictated by the Atlantic Ocean and the marshlands that surround it. You’ll find that the "perfect" time to visit depends entirely on whether you want to see the azaleas bloom or avoid the sweat-through-your-shirt reality of an August afternoon in Forsyth Park.
The Deep Chill: January and February
January is the coldest month. Don't let the palm trees fool you. While the average high sits around 60°F, the nights often drop into the high 30s. Every few years, Savannah gets a "hard freeze" where the fountains in the squares actually turn into ice sculptures. It’s eerie and beautiful.
February starts to tease you. It’s a fickle month. You might get a day that hits 75°F, followed immediately by a rainy, 45-degree slog. If you’re visiting now, layers are non-negotiable. This is the time for light wool coats and leather boots, not flip-flops. According to data from the National Weather Service, this is also one of the drier periods, so while it's cold, you usually won't be dealing with the torrential summer downpours.
Why Winter Matters
The lack of leaves on some trees actually opens up the architecture. You can see the ironwork on the historic mansions much better when the greenery has thinned out. Plus, there are no bugs. None.
The Azalea Window: March and April
This is the sweet spot. March is when the city wakes up. The average temperature climbs into the low 70s. This is also when the St. Patrick’s Day festival happens—the second largest in the country—and the weather usually cooperates, though it can be windy.
By April, the savannah weather by month charts show a perfect 78°F average. The humidity hasn't arrived yet. The air smells like jasmine and tea olives. It is, quite frankly, intoxicating. However, there is a catch: the pollen. Savannah's "yellow dusting" is legendary. If you have allergies, April will be a struggle. Everything—cars, sidewalks, dogs—turns a neon shade of pine pollen yellow.
👉 See also: US States I Have Been To: Why Your Travel Map Is Probably Lying To You
- March Highs: 70°F
- April Highs: 77°F
- The Pollen Factor: High to Extreme
- Vibe: Peak tourism, gorgeous blooms, high prices for hotels.
Entering the Oven: May and June
May is the last "comfortable" month for many. The highs hit the mid-80s. You start to feel the moisture creeping in from the Savannah River and the coast. By the time June 1st rolls around, the transition to summer is complete.
June is hot. It’s 90°F most days. But more than the heat, the "Dew Point" becomes the most important metric. When the dew point hits 70, you feel it. When it hits 75, you stop moving quickly. You’ll notice the locals slow down. There's a reason for the "Southern Drawl" and the "Southern Pace"—it’s literally too hot to talk fast or walk fast.
The August Slog and Hurricane Season
July and August are essentially the same month in Savannah. Hot. Wet. Oppressive. We’re talking 92-95°F with humidity that makes it feel like 105°F. This is the peak of the "afternoon thunderstorm" cycle. Almost every single day at around 4:00 PM, the clouds turn charcoal grey and the sky opens up for 20 minutes. It doesn't cool things down; it just turns the city into a giant steamer basket.
We have to talk about hurricanes. Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, but the peak for the Georgia coast is typically August and September. Savannah hasn't had a direct hit from a major hurricane in a long time, but the "near misses" like Hurricane Matthew in 2016 or Irma in 2017 caused significant flooding and downed trees. If you’re looking at savannah weather by month for a late-summer wedding, you need a Plan B with a roof and heavy-duty air conditioning.
The "False Fall" of September
September is a trickster. You think it’s fall because the calendar says so. It’s not. September in Savannah is often just as hot as August, but with the added anxiety of peak hurricane activity. The ocean is at its warmest, which fuels the storms. You might get lucky with a "cold" front that drops the temp to 85, but don't count on it.
Honestly, if you hate the heat, stay away until at least the third week of October. That’s when the "Great Snap" usually happens. One night, the wind shifts to the north, the humidity vanishes, and suddenly everyone is outside again.
✨ Don't miss: UNESCO World Heritage Places: What Most People Get Wrong About These Landmarks
The Golden Months: October and November
October is the best month in Savannah. Period.
The highs are back in the high 70s. The nights are crisp (mid-50s). The humidity is gone. This is peak festival season—the Savannah Film Festival, the Greek Fest, the Jazz Fest. The sky is a specific shade of deep blue that you only get this time of year.
November follows suit but gets cooler, averaging about 70°F. It’s perfect walking weather. You can spend six hours wandering through the 22 squares and never break a sweat. By late November, the Camellias start blooming, providing pops of pink and red just as the other trees go dormant.
Savannah Weather by Month: A Raw Data Breakdown
To give you a clearer sense of the shift, here is how the averages actually play out across the year. These aren't just numbers; they represent the "feel" of the city.
In January, the high is 60 and the low is 39. It’s quiet and contemplative.
February bumps to 64/42.
March hits 71/49, and the city explodes in color.
April is 78/55, the pinnacle of comfort.
May reaches 85/63, where you start seeking shade.
June is 90/70, the start of the sweat.
July and August both hover around 92/74 with high rain probability.
September stays high at 88/70.
October drops beautifully to 80/59.
November is 71/49.
December closes at 63/42.
The Rain Factor You Aren't Expecting
Savannah gets about 48 inches of rain a year. That’s more than some tropical islands. But it’s not "London rain"—it’s "Tropical rain." It’s violent, loud, and over quickly. Most of this happens in the summer. If you see a 60% chance of rain in July, don't cancel your tour. It just means you’ll be in a bar or a museum for 30 minutes while the street floods, and then the sun will come back out.
The streets in the Historic District, especially near River Street and the Factors Walk area, can flood fast. Those cobblestones are 200 years old; they weren't designed for modern drainage. Wear shoes with grip. Wet ballast stones are like walking on greased glass.
🔗 Read more: Tipos de cangrejos de mar: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre estos bichos
Microclimates: The City vs. The Beach
Something most tourists miss is the Tybee Island factor. Tybee is Savannah’s beach, about 20 minutes away. The weather there is often 5 to 10 degrees cooler in the summer because of the sea breeze. If the city feels like a furnace, head to the coast. Conversely, in the winter, the ocean keeps Tybee slightly warmer than the inland historic district.
What to Pack: A Quick Checklist
- Spring/Fall: A light denim jacket or a "shacket." You'll need it for the AC indoors even if it's warm outside.
- Summer: Linen. Only linen. Or high-tech moisture-wicking fabrics. Forget jeans; you will regret them within ten minutes.
- Winter: A medium-weight coat. The dampness makes the cold feel "sharper" than a dry cold in the Midwest.
Practical Insights for Your Trip
To make the most of the savannah weather by month data, you have to time your activities. In the summer, do your walking tours at 8:00 AM or after 7:00 PM. Use the middle of the day for the SCAD Museum of Art or the Telfair.
If you want the lowest prices and don't mind a chill, January is your month. You'll have the city to yourself. If you want the "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" vibe with all the flowers in bloom, aim for the last week of March. Just bring your antihistamines.
Check the "Heat Index" rather than just the temperature. A 90-degree day with 80% humidity is significantly more dangerous than a 100-degree day in Vegas. Drink twice as much water as you think you need. Savannah allows "to-go" cups for alcohol in the historic district, but for every Savannah Smash you drink, have a bottle of water. Your body will thank you when you're climbing the stairs back up from River Street.
Observe the trees. The Live Oaks stay green year-round, which can mess with your internal clock. But the Cypress trees in the marshes will turn a rusty orange in November, signaling the true change of seasons. Pay attention to those subtle shifts, and you'll experience the city like a local rather than a tourist caught in a downpour.