AI-generatedHilton Head Island at a glance
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 30°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 28.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,420 h
- Rain a year
- 1,124 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 3 m
Climate in Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 30 °C, while January is the coolest at 14 °C. With around 2,420 hours of sunshine a year, Hilton Head Island is sunny; May is the sunniest month with 8.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: May – October
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forBeach & swimmingSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 19°
- Midday, 13:00: about 23°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 24°
- Evening, 20:00: about 22°
- Night, 23:00: about 20°
07:2518:52
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:10–07:58 · evening 18:19–19:07
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:01–07:10 · evening 19:07–19:16
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Hilton Head Island in October?
In October, Hilton Head Island is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 24.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 84 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 26 min07:25 – 18:52
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 13 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 42 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %82 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %57 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %76 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
Sea temperature in Hilton Head Island
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 22.9 – 25.4 °C
Swimming season: May – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Hilton Head Island ranges from 14.1 °C in February to 28.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from May to October.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 28.1 and 29.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 14.7° | 12.5° | 17.6° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 14.1° | 12.1° | 16.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 15.7° | 14.3° | 17.4° | cold |
| AprilApr | 19.1° | 17.7° | 20.6° | fresh |
| MayMay | 23.3° | 22.1° | 24.4° | pleasant |
| JuneJun | 26.9° | 26.0° | 28.0° | warm |
| JulyJul | 28.8° | 28.0° | 29.6° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.9° | 28.1° | 29.7° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 27.5° | 26.6° | 28.3° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 24.2° | 22.9° | 25.4° | pleasant |
| NovemberNov | 19.8° | 18.2° | 21.3° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 16.5° | 14.7° | 18.5° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Hilton Head Island
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.4 of 11.4 hours of daylight in Hilton Head Island, 56 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Hilton Head Island
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 6 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 30 min
- Light brown skin
- about 40 min
- Olive skin
- about 50 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Hilton Head Island: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Hilton Head Island has about 7 rainy days with 84 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Hilton Head Island
How breezy and how cloudy Hilton Head Island is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Hilton Head Island typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Sep – Jun.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 42 % of the sky over Hilton Head Island: mostly sunny, with about 6.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Hilton Head Island
How often the day gets hot in Hilton Head Island (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Hilton Head Island has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 24 °C: some hot or muggy days. Single hot or muggy days are possible; a hat and water bottle are enough.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Hilton Head Island
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 18°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 13 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (8°), the warmest in July (25°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from May to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in April and in October. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 157 days a year, mostly from May to October.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 22 | 14° | 8° | 14.7° | 5.4 h | 8 | 73 |
| FebruaryFeb | 23 | 16° | 10° | 14.1° | 5.7 h | 9 | 82 |
| MarchMar | 26 | 19° | 12° | 15.7° | 6.5 h | 8 | 84 |
| AprilApr | 59 | 22° | 16° | 19.1° | 7.9 h | 7 | 68 |
| MayMay | 87 | 26° | 20° | 23.3° | 8.0 h | 9 | 66 |
| JuneJun | 80 | 29° | 24° | 26.9° | 7.7 h | 15 | 114 |
| JulyJul | 77 | 30° | 25° | 28.8° | 7.8 h | 17 | 126 |
| AugustAug | 73 | 30° | 25° | 28.9° | 7.0 h | 19 | 165 |
| SeptemberSep | 78 | 28° | 23° | 27.5° | 6.2 h | 13 | 122 |
| OctoberOct | 80 | 24° | 18° | 24.2° | 6.4 h | 7 | 84 |
| NovemberNov | 38 | 19° | 13° | 19.8° | 5.8 h | 6 | 55 |
| DecemberDec | 20 | 16° | 10° | 16.5° | 4.9 h | 9 | 85 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
32.19° N, 80.74° W · 3 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Hilton Head Island
The best time to visit Hilton Head Island is from May to October. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go in May and in October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from February to May and from October to December. Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 165 mm.
Hilton Head Island through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Hilton Head Island in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 19–26 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Hilton Head Island in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 29–30 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 51 rainy days in all
Hilton Head Island in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 19–28 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 26 rainy days in all
Hilton Head Island in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 14–16 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Hilton Head Island for you.
Your best months: May – June, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Hilton Head Island
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Hilton Head Island: score 87 against 80. In May, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in May. May has 2 more rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 80 | 87better |
| Day high | 24° | 26° |
| Night low | 18° | 20° |
| Sea | 24.2° | 23.3° |
| Sunshine | 6.4 h | 8.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 7better | 9 |
| Rainfall | 84 mm | 66 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 13better | 18 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
May, Oct
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Feb – May, Oct – Dec
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jun – Sep
12 or more rainy days
Hilton Head Island month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
22January14° · Sea 15° · 5 h
In January, Hilton Head Island is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 73 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in January23February16° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In February, Hilton Head Island is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 82 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in February26March19° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In March, Hilton Head Island is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 84 mm. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in March59April22° · Sea 19° · 8 h
In April, Hilton Head Island is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 19.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 68 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in April87May26° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In May, Hilton Head Island is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 23.3 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 66 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in May80June29° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In June, Hilton Head Island is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 114 mm. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in June77July30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In July, Hilton Head Island is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 126 mm. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in July73August30° · Sea 29° · 7 h
In August, Hilton Head Island is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 165 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in August78September28° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In September, Hilton Head Island is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 122 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in September80October24° · Sea 24° · 6 h
In October, Hilton Head Island is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 24.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 84 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in October38November19° · Sea 20° · 6 h
In November, Hilton Head Island is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 19.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 55 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in November20December16° · Sea 17° · 5 h
In December, Hilton Head Island is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 16.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 85 mm. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island in DecemberHilton Head Island compared
Put Hilton Head Island side by side with another destination.
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Hilton Head Island vs. Savannah
In October Savannah has the better holiday weather (score 88 vs. 80). During the day Savannah is 1 °C warmer than Hilton Head Island. Savannah gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Hilton Head Island | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 80 | 88 |
| Daytime high | 24° | 25° |
| Sea | 24° | – |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 8 |
| Best time | May – Oct | Feb – May, Oct – Nov |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Hilton Head Island ranks 19 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Panama City Beach25°26°90
- 2Clearwater Beach26°27°89
- 3Sarasota28°27°89
- 4Destin26°26°89
- 5St. Pete Beach27°27°86
- 6Fort Myers Beach28°28°86
- 7Naples29°28°86
- 8Greenville22°85
- 19Hilton Head IslandThis page24°24°80
Planning a trip to Hilton Head Island
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Hilton Head Island in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Hilton Head Island has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 86) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 21).
- 49
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 86
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 7.9 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 74
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 80
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 21
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h 30 min
- Distance
- 6,630 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Hilton Head Island lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Hilton Head Island
When is the best time to visit Hilton Head Island?
The best time to visit Hilton Head Island is from May to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Hilton Head Island?
The sea temperature in Hilton Head Island ranges from 14.1 °C in February to 28.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from May to October.
Can you swim in Hilton Head Island in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 24.2 °C – pleasant for swimming.
What is the warmest month in Hilton Head Island?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C and nights around 25 °C. January is the coolest month at 14 °C.
When does it rain most in Hilton Head Island?
Rain is most frequent from June to September; the wettest month is August with 165 mm. The driest month is November with 55 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Hilton Head Island get?
Hilton Head Island gets around 2,420 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 8.0 hours a day; in December there are 4.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Hilton Head Island in?
Hilton Head Island uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Hilton Head Island?
A nonstop flight from London to Hilton Head Island takes about 8 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,630 km.
When is hurricane season in Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Island has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 86) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 21). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 49, May half-term 86, Summer holidays 74, October half-term 80, Christmas holidays 21.
Near Hilton Head Island
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Hilton Head Island
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Hilton Head Island's – good alternatives.