Pool season · South Carolina
North Charleston Pool Season: the Year on One Bar
Last updated: July 25, 2026 · dates · water temp
North Charleston's whole pool calendar, condensed: when the water warms, when it cools, and where today falls between those edges. Use the opening guide and closing guide for the step-by-step work; keep this page for the dates.
North Charleston, SC — 164 swim days a yearEach dot on the bar is one week of North Charleston's typical year, colored by what the model says that week is for: gray weeks are off-season, hollow teal marks the opening window (March 6–March 27), solid teal is swim season, and hollow amber is the closing window ending November 15. The black marker is today — its position against the colors is the entire executive summary.
The North Charleston pool calendar
Opening — target March 13
Open by March 13 — a two-week head start on the March 27 crossing keeps startup chemistry small and beats the local service rush.
Closing — deadline November 15
Hold the cover until November 5, then winterize by November 15, a week ahead of the November 27 freeze normal. Late and cold beats early and warm.
Estimated water temperature by month
Monthly averages of the site's water model run on North Charleston's own normals — the shape of a typical year, not a forecast. The widget above shows where the current year actually sits.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50° | 51° | 56° | 63° | 70° | 77° | 82° | 82° | 79° | 73° | 62° | 55° |
Warmest water typically July–September (peaking near 83°F); heaters and covers shift any month up.
Every station tells its own story: compare this curve with Myrtle Beach's pool season and Rock Hill's — neighboring normals stations can shift the windows by a week or more. The full ranking lives on the South Carolina season index.
North Charleston pool season FAQ
When should I open my pool in North Charleston, SC?
The site model recommends opening by March 13 — about two weeks before North Charleston's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F, while the water is still too cold for algae. The step-by-step sequence is in the North Charleston opening guide.
When should I close my pool in North Charleston?
Winterize by November 15. The model holds the deadline a week ahead of North Charleston's NOAA 50% first-freeze date, so the plumbing is protected before the first hard night. The full sequence is in the North Charleston closing guide.
How long is the swim season in North Charleston?
North Charleston averages 164 days a year with normal highs of 80°F or better — about 15 days earlier than the South Carolina median. The South Carolina season index ranks all 12 covered cities by the same metric.
How warm does pool water get in North Charleston?
An unheated pool near North Charleston typically peaks around 83°F in high summer and bottoms out near 50°F in winter, spending roughly 3 months at or above the 78°F comfort line most swimmers prefer. The month-by-month curve above shows the whole cycle; the methodology page explains the ±5°F error bars.
Email me when North Charleston hits the closing window
Data: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals via Charleston International Airport (1.9 mi); live outlook by Open-Meteo. Attribution: sources · assumptions: methodology.