Hilton Head Island weather in August

In August, Hilton Head Island sees average daytime highs of 85°F and overnight lows near 77°F, with 6.1 in of rain across 18.9 wet days and about 13.2 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 85°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in August, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 36 min at the start of August to 12 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, August is Hilton Head Island's 12th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hilton Head Island's year-round climate.

Daytime high
85°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
77°
11th coldest
Rainfall
6.1 in
18.9 wet days
Daylight
13 h 12 min
5:51 AM – 7:03 PM
Cloud cover
60%
12th clearest
Wind
8 mph
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.49 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.1
out of 10

Hilton Head Island is resort town in South Carolina, USA.

Density
378/km²
people per km²

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

Temperature in August

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 85°F through the month.

A typical August day in Hilton Head Island reaches about 85°F in the afternoon and slips back to 77°F overnight — a 9°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 82°F and 90°F. Set against its neighbours, August runs on par with July and about 3°F warmer than September.

70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18677
28677
38677
48677
58677
68677
78677
88677
98677
108677
118677
128677
138677
148677
158677
168677
178577
188577
198577
208577
218577
228577
238576
248576
258576
268576
278576
288576
298576
308476
318476

How August really feels in Hilton Head Island

Once humidity and wind are folded in, August averages 31 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
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in August is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Hilton Head Island weather by month

How August compares with the rest of the year at a glance. August is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan58° / 46°3.38.510.14.7
Feb61° / 48°3.28.410.85.1
Mar66° / 53°3.17.911.86.5
Apr72° / 60°2.76.812.87.3
May79° / 68°2.48.513.67.1
Jun84° / 74°4.615.314.15.0
Jul87° / 77°4.816.613.94.1
Aug85° / 77°6.118.913.24.1
Sep82° / 73°4.613.212.25.7
Oct75° / 64°3.87.611.27.4
Nov67° / 54°2.46.310.46.9
Dec61° / 48°3.38.69.95.3

Cloud cover in August

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in August, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of August, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34753
44654
54753
64654
74852
84852
94852
104852
114951
124951
134951
144951
154951
164951
174951
184951
195050
204951
214951
225050
234951
244951
255050
264951
274951
285050
295050
305149
315149

Chance of precipitation in August

Any precipitation

Hilton Head Island gets around 6.1 in of rain over 18.9 wet days in August, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 61% and peaks near 62% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
161
262
362
462
562
662
762
862
962
1062
1162
1262
1362
1462
1562
1662
1762
1862
1962
2061
2161
2261
2360
2460
2559
2659
2758
2857
2957
3056
3155

Humidity in August

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, August lands in the oppressive band about 50% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 99% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
10154748
20154648
30154648
40154648
50164648
60164647
70154648
80154648
90154648
100154648
110154648
120154648
130154648
140154648
150154648
160154747
170164846
180164845
190174943
200175042
210175141
220185239
230185338
240185536
250195535
2601105633
2702105632
2812115630
2912125728
3013125727
3113135825

Wind in August

Winds average 8 mph in August, the calmest month.

Across August, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in August

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 36 min at the start of August to 12 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 54 minutes over August. Sunrise moves from 5:41 AM to 6:01 AM, and sunset from 7:17 PM to 6:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.65:417:17
213.65:427:16
313.55:427:15
413.55:437:14
513.55:447:14
613.55:457:13
713.45:457:12
813.45:467:11
913.45:477:10
1013.45:477:09
1113.35:487:08
1213.35:497:07
1313.35:497:06
1413.25:507:05
1513.25:517:04
1613.25:517:03
1713.25:527:02
1813.15:537:01
1913.15:536:59
2013.15:546:58
2113.05:556:57
2213.05:556:56
2313.05:566:55
2412.95:576:54
2512.95:576:52
2612.95:586:51
2712.95:596:50
2812.85:596:49
2912.86:006:47
3012.86:016:46
3112.76:016:45

Solar energy in August

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in August, about 5.49 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 6.48 kWh/m² in May across the year — August's 5.49 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.6Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.4Bright
215.4Bright
225.4Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.2Bright
285.2Bright
295.2Bright
305.2Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in August

Hazard calendar for Hilton Head Island

In seasonPeak

In August, Hilton Head Island sits inside its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Hilton Head Island sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is August a good time to visit Hilton Head Island?

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

4.1
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
5.6
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

August is a reasonable time to visit Hilton Head Island for sightseeing.

What to pack for Hilton Head Island in August

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

In August, Hilton Head Island sees daytime highs around 85°F and nights near 77°F. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 19 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Hilton Head Island in August

The nearest coast averages about 84°F in August — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 8 mi away) is warmest in August at about 84°F and coldest in February near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 23 to Nov 17 — about 6.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan60Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar61Cool
Apr66Cool
May74Refreshing
Jun80Warm
Jul83Tropical
Aug84Tropical
Sep82Warm
Oct76Warm
Nov68Refreshing
Dec63Cool

UV index in Hilton Head Island in August

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in August peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hilton Head Island peaks around July 13 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar7High
Apr7High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Hilton Head Island in August

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Hilton Head Island is worst in March — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMar 1723 µg/m³Dec 158 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar25Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island sits at 32.2°N, 80.7°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hilton Head, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Hilton Head Island

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hilton Head Island has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 112 ft around an average of 30 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 233 ft.

The land around Hilton Head Island is covered by trees (57%) within 2 miles, water (61%) and trees (21%) within 10 miles, and trees (48%) and water (36%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
112 ft
10 miles
125 ft
50 miles
233 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
August weather nearby: Hilton Head 1.9 mi · Bluffton 7.5 mi · Wilmington Island 19 mi · Savannah 22 mi · Pooler 30 mi · Hinesville 56 mi · Charleston 62 mi · Statesboro 63 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 Hilton Head Island (32.1938°, -80.7382°, elevation 10 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. 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).