Seasonal Weather in Myrtle Beach
Carolinians appreciate how wonderful the weather normally is in their coastal areas and are eager to tell you that Myrtle Beach weather is just about perfect year round. As a matter of fact, the town’s official tourism site notes that it enjoys about 215 days of sunshine per year.
Indeed, Myrtle Beach – like all the towns along the Grand Strand - boasts a humid subtropical climate, which can be quite pleasant regardless of the time of year. There are, however, four distinct seasons here, though they tend to vary less from season to season than in places like New England, for example.
Summer
The summer is Myrtle Beach’s most popular time for vacationers with families to visit the area and it can indeed get hot here from June through August. Average highs during those months top out at around 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit with lows averaging around 70. That means the nights are a little cooler, but it isn’t unusual for the humidity to hang around after dark. Thankfully, the ocean breezes off the Atlantic tend to cool things down in the evening hours. Nonetheless, most establishments are well air-conditioned and visitors can always escape indoors when the heat gets to be too much.
Rainfall is also highest during the months of July and August. The average rainfall during these months is about 6 to 7 inches, and afternoon or early evening thunderstorms are quite common along with the humid summer weather.
Being a southern coastal town, Myrtle Beach has also been hit by hurricanes on occasion. The most direct hit in recent years came from Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which left about 70,000 South Carolinians homeless. More recently, 2004’s Hurricane Charley caused some minor damage in the area. The National Weather Service estimates that the city gets hit or brushed by a hurricane every 3-4 years but there’s not as much concern here as there would be for points south, such as coastal Florida.
Spring
Dubbed by many as the prettiest and most pleasant season in Myrtle Beach, this is the time when golfers and those who enjoy flexible travel time arrive. Usually, the area is uncrowded, especially in April, and it’s an excellent time to visit, especially if you prefer to be in Myrtle Beach when families with kids are scarce.
The weather in the spring is obviously the reason so many people come to the area at that time. The average high temperatures in Myrtle Beach in the spring range from about 68 to 80 degrees with lows from 50 to around 70. Rainfall is fairly low as well, averaging about 3-4 inches per month.
Winter
Winter in Myrtle Beach can indeed be chilly but there are plenty of really pleasant days mixed in with the cold. Though attractions don’t stay open as long and golf courses are often empty, this is still a favorite time for many to visit. Highs in January and February reach about 60 degrees while lows rarely dip below 35-40. Snow along the coast isn’t a common occurrence. Myrtle Beach is more likely to experience sleet and freezing rain when the temperatures dip down below 32 degrees.
Autumn
Fall in Myrtle Beach is nearly as pleasant as spring
and does indeed attract golfers and even those who want to enjoy some quiet
time on the beach. Average highs in October and November range from 70 to 75
degrees and lows average about 45 to 55 degrees. This is also the period of
least rainfall, with November experience only about 2.5 inches.
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