Myrtle Beach weather in December
December in Myrtle Beach: cool, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Myrtle Beach · #1012 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 58/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 16°C
- Nights
- 6°C
- Wet days
- 8
- Sun
- 6.6 h
- Humidity
- 75%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Myrtle Beach in December
Other months in Myrtle Beach
Regulars are specific this month is a real transition, highs falling from near 80F early on to around 70F by the end, with the ocean itself cooling noticeably faster after the second week - early October named as the better window for anyone actually planning to swim. Our row backs that mild, still-pleasant read, 24.6C over 15.3C nights, with 110.9mm of rain across 6.1 days and humidity at 74 percent. Regulars are consistent this counts as genuinely perfect weather for strolling the beach even once swimsuit weather fades, crowds thinning fast and hotel deals improving as the month goes on. The sea sits at 21.8C, still comfortable for many earlier in the month. The record: 8.9 hours of sun, a 17 kph wind and AQI 42.
Regulars put the average air near 76F with water around 68F, both still on the cool side, and warn the month can swing day to day - 75 one afternoon, 55 the next. Our row backs that unsettled read, 22.5C reading as 22C over 12.9C nights, with 87.4mm of rain across 6.6 days and a genuine 20.2 kph wind. The sea sits at 19.5C, manageable for some by late April rather than truly warm, which is why regulars traveling with kids over spring break are pointed toward a hotel with a heated indoor pool as the reliable backup regardless of what the ocean is doing that day. Days are usually clear and sunny even when the water lags behind. The record: humidity 70 percent, 10.7 hours of sun and AQI 51.
Myrtle Beach-forum threads on January weather describe genuinely variable conditions - typical days sitting in the 50s Fahrenheit, but posters note it's entirely possible to catch a run of 70-degree afternoons on the warmest stretches, right alongside a cold snap on other days. Mornings run chilly regardless, but the afternoon warmth is often enough for a comfortable beach walk, outdoor dining, or a round of golf with just a light jacket. The ocean itself is called firmly off-limits for swimming, water temperatures cold enough that even wading isn't appealing. Regulars are consistent that the real trade-off this month isn't the weather but the town itself - a genuine share of restaurants and attractions close for the off-season, so the notably cheaper rates come paired with fewer open options compared to summer. The record: 13.7C days feeling like 12C, 4C nights, 82mm across 8.1 days, 2.4cm of rare snowfall, a 10.9C sea, 72 percent humidity and 7.2 hours of sun.
September is the month locals name alongside May: about 85F air and 77F water on their figures - our row says 28.5C and a 27.2C sea - with the crowds gone the moment Labor Day passes, no queues at the restaurants or the mini-golf, and accommodation prices down with them. The caveat is the calendar it shares with hurricane season, of which September is the peak. Regulars are measured about it: storms more often skirt the South Carolina coast for North Carolina, and one of them counts nine September trips with a single tropical storm that was not severe. Our row's 210mm across 8 precipitation days is the wettest total in this round, and that is what a tropical system looks like in a monthly normal. The record: 20.8C nights, humidity 79 percent and 9.8 hours of sun.
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Myrtle Beach climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Myrtle Beach in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Myrtle Beach's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherMyrtle Beach's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Myrtle Beach in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Snowbird season
1 Dec – 28 Feb · usuallyWinter-sun seasonLong-stay snowbirds from Canada and the northern states take the oceanfront condos at the lowest rates of the year. The beach is empty, some shows and seasonal attractions close and many golf courses cut back. Source ↗
- Festival
Nights of a Thousand Candles
3–31 DecLights & fireBook earlyBrookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, about half an hour south, lights thousands of hand-lit candles among its sculptures on selected December evenings. Timed tickets sell out, so book well ahead. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Myrtle Beach — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Myrtle Beach?
- December in Myrtle Beach: cool, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Myrtle Beach on SeasonMap's comfort score (58/100).
- What is the weather like in Myrtle Beach in December?
- In December, Myrtle Beach averages a daily high of 15.7°C and a low of 6.1°C, with about 107.3 mm of rain over roughly 7.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Myrtle Beach in December?
- Myrtle Beach has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in December.
Within 300 km: Savannah's Holiday season on the squares on 25 Nov – 31 Dec, and Charleston's Lowcountry oyster season on 1 Oct – 30 Apr.