Charleston weather in September

In September, Charleston sees average daytime highs of 77°F and overnight lows near 59°F, with 3.8 in of rain across 9.4 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 81°F in the first days to 73°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in September, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Charleston's 1st-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Charleston's year-round climate.

Daytime high
77°
4th warmest
Overnight low
59°
9th coldest
Rainfall
3.8 in
9.4 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
6:14 AM – 6:28 PM
Cloud cover
52%
1st clearest
Wind
5 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
4.42 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.9
out of 10

Charleston is capital city of the U.S. state of West Virginia and seat of Kanawha County.

Density
554/km²
people per km²
Founded
1786

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 81°F in the first days to 73°F by the end.

A typical September day in Charleston reaches about 77°F in the afternoon and slips back to 59°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 68°F and 87°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 5°F cooler than August and about 10°F warmer than October.

40°60°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18264
28164
38163
48163
58163
68062
78062
88062
98061
107961
117961
127960
137860
147860
157859
167759
177759
187758
197658
207658
217657
227557
237557
247556
257456
267456
277455
287355
297355
307354

How September really feels in Charleston

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

September sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Charleston weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan43° / 28°4.012.14.89.60.5
Feb46° / 30°3.811.94.310.51.2
Mar55° / 37°4.713.52.811.73.3
Apr67° / 47°4.313.10.5135.5
May73° / 56°5.014.6014.16.0
Jun81° / 64°4.914.2014.65.8
Jul83° / 67°5.014.2014.45.2
Aug82° / 66°3.911.5013.56.0
Sep77° / 59°3.89.4012.36.9
Oct67° / 48°3.49.50.1116.3
Nov56° / 38°3.49.919.93.7
Dec47° / 32°4.11239.41.3

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in September, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 42%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26337
36337
46337
56337
66238
76238
86238
96139
106139
116040
126040
135941
145842
155743
165644
175545
185545
195347
205347
215446
225347
235446
245446
255446
265446
275644
285644
295644
305644

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Charleston gets around 3.8 in of rain over 9.4 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 31% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
132
232
332
431
531
630
730
830
929
1029
1129
1229
1329
1429
1529
1630
1730
1831
1931
2032
2132
2232
2332
2432
2532
2632
2731
2831
2930
3030

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of September feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, September lands in the dry band about 30% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 20% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1820293210
2102129319
3112229308
4122329298
5132329287
6152429266
7162529255
8182529244
9202529233
10212529223
11232528212
12252528202
13262528191
14282527191
15292527181
16312527171
17322527161
18342426151
19352426141
20372426131
21392425121
22402425110
23422324100
2444232390
2546232290
2648232280
2750222170
2851222070
2953221960
3055211860

Wind in September

Winds average 5 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min at the start of September to 11 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 78 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:00 AM to 6:26 AM, and sunset from 6:52 PM to 6:05 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.96:006:52
212.86:016:51
312.86:026:49
412.76:036:48
512.76:046:46
612.76:056:44
712.66:056:43
812.66:066:41
912.56:076:40
1012.56:086:38
1112.56:096:36
1212.46:106:35
1312.46:116:33
1412.36:126:31
1512.36:136:30
1612.26:146:28
1712.26:146:27
1812.26:156:25
1912.16:166:23
2012.16:176:22
2112.06:186:20
2212.06:196:18
2311.96:206:17
2411.96:216:15
2511.96:226:13
2611.86:236:12
2711.86:246:10
2811.76:246:09
2911.76:256:07
3011.66:266:05

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.42 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.76 kWh/m² to a high of 6.09 kWh/m² in June across the year — September's 4.42 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
44.9Bright
54.9Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.7Bright
104.7Bright
114.7Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.4Bright
174.4Bright
184.3Bright
194.3Bright
204.2Bright
214.2Bright
224.1Bright
234.1Bright
244.0Bright
254.0Bright
264.0Moderate
274.0Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
303.9Moderate
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Charleston?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.9
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Charleston for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Charleston in September

From September's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In September, Charleston sees daytime highs around 77°F and nights near 59°F. Worth packing: light clothes and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

UV index in Charleston in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Charleston peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 20UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5High
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Charleston in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Charleston is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1418 µg/m³Dec 147 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar9Good
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Charleston?

Charleston sits at 38.3°N, 81.6°W, 597 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Huntington, 44 mi away.

Topography around Charleston

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Charleston.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Charleston has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 623 ft around an average of 814 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,148 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,002 ft.

The land around Charleston is covered by trees (63%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, trees (89%) within 10 miles, and trees (93%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
623 ft
10 miles
1,148 ft
50 miles
3,002 ft
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswater
September weather nearby: Huntington 44 mi · Beckley 47 mi · Ashland 55 mi · Meads 58 mi · Parkersburg 63 mi · Athens 72 mi · Portsmouth 78 mi · Clarksburg 94 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Charleston (38.3498°, -81.6326°, elevation 597 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).