So, you’re thinking about Summerville. Maybe you’re moving for the "Flower Town" charm or just visiting to see the azaleas. Honestly, the first thing people tell you is that it’s "just like Charleston but cheaper."
Well, from a meteorological standpoint, that’s a flat-out lie.
The weather in Summerville SC is its own animal. Being about twenty-five miles inland changes the vibe completely. You lose that coastal breeze that keeps the Battery tolerable in July, and suddenly, you’re dealing with what locals call "the swamp effect." It’s thicker. It’s stiller. And if you aren’t prepared for the specific rhythm of Dorchester County’s sky, you’re gonna have a rough time.
The Humidity Is Basically a Personality Trait
Let’s talk about the "oppressive" label. Between June and August, the humidity in Summerville usually sits around 74% to 76%. That sounds like a number until you step outside at 10:00 AM and feel like you’ve been wrapped in a warm, wet blanket.
July is the heavyweight champion of heat here. You’re looking at average highs of 91°F, but the heat index—the "feels like" temp—regularly clears 105°F. In July 2011, parts of the Lowcountry even saw heat indices hit a record-shattering 124°F.
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It’s the kind of heat that dictates your schedule.
You’ll see people walking their dogs at 6:30 AM or 9:00 PM. Anything in between is just cruel to the paws. Summerville gets about 52.56 inches of rain annually, and a huge chunk of that comes from those predictable, violent afternoon thunderstorms. They roll in around 3:00 PM, dump a tropical amount of water in twenty minutes, and then vanish—leaving the pavement steaming and the air even stickier than before.
Why the "Inland" Buffer Is a Double-Edged Sword
One of the biggest misconceptions involves hurricanes. People move here thinking they’re safe because they aren't on the Peninsula or Folly Beach.
It’s true that Summerville is largely outside the primary evacuation zones (Zones A and B). You aren't going to see a 15-foot storm surge coming down Main Street. However, because the town is so heavily wooded—it’s the "Birthplace of Liberty" and basically a forest with houses—the wind is your real enemy.
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During Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the inland winds were still strong enough to snap massive pines like toothpicks. Even a "weak" Category 1 or a strong tropical storm can knock out power for a week because of the tree canopy. So, while you won’t need a boat to exit your driveway, you definitely need a high-quality chainsaw and a generator.
Season by Season Breakdown
- Spring (March–May): This is the "Sweet Spot." Highs go from 69°F in March to a perfect 82°F in May. This is when the azaleas go nuts. But beware: the pollen count in April is high enough to turn every car in town a sickly neon yellow.
- Summer (June–August): It's hot. It's wet. August is actually the wettest month, averaging nearly 7 inches of rain. If you’re visiting, stay near a pool.
- Fall (September–November): My personal favorite. October is the clearest month of the year, with clear skies 64% of the time. The humidity finally breaks, and the highs sit at a gorgeous 77°F.
- Winter (December–February): Short and weirdly inconsistent. January is the coldest month, with an average low of 39°F.
Does It Actually Snow?
Kinda. But mostly no.
The record for Summerville is about 0.7 inches for the whole year. When it does snow, the entire town shuts down. I’m not kidding. Schools close if there’s a threat of a flurry. Since the ground rarely stays frozen, what actually happens is we get "ice storms" or freezing rain.
Take January 2026, for example. We’ve seen lows dipping to 24°F and 25°F recently. On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the forecast actually calls for a 75% chance of rain and snow during the day. This isn’t the "build a snowman" kind of snow; it’s the "slush that turns to black ice on I-26" kind of snow.
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Basically, if the forecast says "snow," stay home and wait four hours. It’ll probably be 50 degrees by lunchtime anyway.
Actionable Tips for Surviving Summerville's Sky
If you’re moving here or just passing through, don’t just check the temperature. Check the dew point. If the dew point is over 70, you’re going to sweat just standing still.
- Dehumidify your life: If you’re buying a house, make sure the HVAC is rated for high-humidity environments. A crawlspace dehumidifier isn't a luxury here; it's a necessity to prevent mold.
- The "Car Wash" Rule: Don't wash your car in April. The yellow pine pollen will coat it again within thirty minutes. Wait until the first big "pollen wash" rain in May.
- Afternoon Planning: If you have outdoor projects, get them done before 2:00 PM. The daily summer thunderstorms are so consistent you can almost set your watch by them.
- Tree Maintenance: If you have a massive Water Oak hanging over your roof, get it trimmed. Summerville's sandy soil and heavy rains make trees prone to toppling during high-wind events.
The weather in Summerville SC is a trade-off. You endure the "sauna season" of July and August so you can enjoy the absolute perfection of October and November. Just keep an extra umbrella in the trunk and a high-speed fan on the porch, and you’ll fit in just fine.
To prepare for the immediate cold snap, you should wrap your outdoor pipes tonight, as temperatures are expected to hit a low of 25°F.