Köppen Climate Classification
Climate is the distribution of weather over a long period of time. Climate covers everything from averages to extremes of different meteorological variables, such as temperature and precipitation. Köppen climate classifications give information about these different variables. South Carolina straddles two main climatic zones.
South Carolina is categorized as a humid subtropical climate, though portions of the “Upstate” have less tropical characteristics than the remainder of the state. This climate zone has warm-to-hot summers with cold-to-mild winters. The average temperature of the coldest month is below 64°F and above 27°:F. There is usually no dry season with this classification, and the rainfall is highly variable year-round.
Let’s explore the what are some of the influences on the climatic zone for South Carolina.