Mount Pleasant weather in May

In May, Mount Pleasant sees average daytime highs of 75°F and overnight lows near 69°F, with 2.5 in of rain across 8.2 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 73°F in the first days to 78°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Mount Pleasant's 4th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mount Pleasant's year-round climate.

Daytime high
75°
5th warmest
Overnight low
69°
8th coldest
Rainfall
2.5 in
8.2 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
5:25 AM – 7:06 PM
Cloud cover
47%
4th clearest
Wind
11 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
6.54 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.3
out of 10

Mount Pleasant is town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States.

Density
696/km²
people per km²
Founded
1680

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

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 73°F in the first days to 78°F by the end.

A typical May day in Mount Pleasant reaches about 75°F in the afternoon and slips back to 69°F overnight — a 6°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 71°F and 80°F. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 6°F warmer than April and about 6°F cooler than June.

50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17265
27266
37366
47366
57366
67367
77467
87467
97467
107468
117468
127568
137569
147569
157569
167569
177669
187670
197670
207670
217671
227771
237771
247771
257772
267872
277872
287872
297873
307873
317973

How May really feels in Mount Pleasant

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May 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

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

Mount Pleasant weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan58° / 49°3.79.610.14.5
Feb59° / 50°3.8910.84.7
Mar63° / 55°3.58.311.86.0
Apr69° / 62°3.0712.87.0
May75° / 69°2.58.213.77.3
Jun81° / 76°4.613.914.15.9
Jul84° / 78°4.91513.95.0
Aug83° / 78°6.518.213.24.8
Sep80° / 74°6.114.212.26.0
Oct74° / 66°4.58.611.27.3
Nov66° / 57°3.07.510.36.6
Dec61° / 52°4.09.69.95.2

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 37%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16733
26733
36733
46733
56733
66733
76733
86733
96733
106634
116535
126535
136535
146535
156436
166436
176436
186436
196337
206238
216238
226238
236139
246139
256139
266040
275941
285941
295842
305743
315743

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Mount Pleasant gets around 2.5 in of rain over 8.2 wet days in May, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 27% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
321
421
521
621
722
822
922
1023
1123
1224
1324
1425
1525
1626
1726
1827
1927
2028
2129
2230
2330
2431
2532
2633
2734
2835
2936
3037
3138

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the muggy band about 36% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 58% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
12019292940
21918283140
31818273350
41717273450
51617263650
61516253760
71516253870
81415243970
91315244080
101314234190
1112142341100
1212132242110
1312122242120
1411122142140
1511122142150
1611112041170
1710112041180
1810112040200
199101939220
208101938240
217101838260
227101837290
23691836310
24591735341
25581734361
26481633391
27371531421
28371530441
29271429472
30261327492
31161326513

Wind in May

Winds average 11 mph in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
111light breeze
211light breeze
311light breeze
411light breeze
511light breeze
611light breeze
711light breeze
811light breeze
911light breeze
1011light breeze
1111light breeze
1211light breeze
1311light breeze
1411light breeze
1511light breeze
1611light breeze
1711light breeze
1811light breeze
1911light breeze
2011light breeze
2111light breeze
2211light breeze
2311light breeze
2411light breeze
2511light breeze
2611light breeze
2711light breeze
2811light breeze
2911light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:38 AM to 5:17 AM, and sunset from 6:55 PM to 7:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.35:386:55
213.35:376:56
313.35:366:57
413.45:356:57
513.45:346:58
613.45:336:59
713.55:327:00
813.55:327:00
913.55:317:01
1013.55:307:02
1113.65:297:02
1213.65:287:03
1313.65:277:04
1413.65:277:05
1513.75:267:05
1613.75:257:06
1713.75:257:07
1813.75:247:08
1913.85:237:08
2013.85:237:09
2113.85:227:10
2213.85:217:10
2313.85:217:11
2413.95:207:12
2513.95:207:12
2613.95:197:13
2713.95:197:14
2813.95:197:14
2913.95:187:15
3014.05:187:16
3114.05:177:16

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 6.54 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.61 kWh/m² to a high of 6.54 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 6.54 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.4Intense
26.5Intense
36.5Intense
46.5Intense
56.5Intense
66.5Intense
76.5Intense
86.5Intense
96.5Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.6Intense
146.6Intense
156.6Intense
166.6Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.5Intense
226.5Intense
236.5Intense
246.5Intense
256.5Intense
266.5Intense
276.5Intense
286.5Intense
296.5Intense
306.4Intense
316.4Intense
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Mount Pleasant

In seasonPeak

None of Mount Pleasant's seasonal hazards are active in May. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Mount Pleasant 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 May a good time to visit Mount Pleasant?

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

7.3
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

May is one of the better times to visit Mount Pleasant for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Mount Pleasant in May

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

In May, Mount Pleasant sees daytime highs around 75°F and nights near 69°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Mount Pleasant in May

The nearest coast averages about 73°F in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 12 mi away) is warmest in August at about 83°F and coldest in February near 60°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 25 to Nov 19 — about 6.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan61Cool
Feb60Cool
Mar61Cool
Apr66Cool
May73Refreshing
Jun80Warm
Jul83Tropical
Aug83Tropical
Sep81Warm
Oct75Warm
Nov68Refreshing
Dec64Cool

UV index in Mount Pleasant in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mount Pleasant 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 — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar7High
Apr7Very high
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Mount Pleasant in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Mount Pleasant is worst in March — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateGoodMar 1719 µg/m³Dec 136 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar21Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May11Good
Jun14Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep9Good
Oct6Good
Nov7Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mount Pleasant?

Mount Pleasant sits at 32.8°N, 79.9°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Charleston, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around Mount Pleasant

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Mount Pleasant has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 66 ft around an average of 16 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 226 ft.

The land around Mount Pleasant is covered by trees (42%), water (20%) and wetland (20%) within 2 miles, water (44%) and trees (27%) within 10 miles, and trees (50%) and water (38%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
66 ft
10 miles
131 ft
50 miles
226 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
May weather nearby: Charleston 4.3 mi · North Charleston 7.5 mi · Hanahan 12 mi · Goose Creek 16 mi · Summerville 24 mi · Hilton Head 65 mi · Hilton Head Island 66 mi · Bluffton 70 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 Mount Pleasant (32.7941°, -79.8626°, 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).