Hilton Head Island Weather in January

What January feels like on Hilton Head

The average temperature in January is 60°F for highs and 40°F for lows, with about 3.4 inches of rain, and the ocean averages 53°F.

January is the island’s coolest stretch, and the quietest. Afternoons usually reach the low 60s, and nights dip to around 40, cold enough for a jacket on a bike ride but rarely cold enough to cancel anything. Sunny winter days are common, which is why the golf courses and walking trails stay in use.

The ocean is at its coolest this month, in the low 50s, so this is a month for the beach as a walk, not a swim. Pack layers: a mild afternoon can turn brisk by the water once the sun drops.

Hilton Head in January is a different island from the one in July. Traffic is light, restaurants have tables at short notice and the beach is wide and empty at low tide. Days are short, with the sun setting before 6 p.m. early in the month, so plan outdoor time for late morning and early afternoon.

A cold front can bring a few days in the 40s and a frost on the golf courses, and the next week can be back in the upper 60s. Snow is rare: the last two measurable snowfalls were on January 3, 2018 and January 22, 2025.

Sunrise and sunset in January

Eastern time, calculated for the island with NOAA’s solar equations. Daylight runs from 10 hr 5 min on Jan 1 to 10 hr 38 min on Jan 31. For today’s times and the next two weeks, see the live weather page.

What’s on in Hilton Head in January

January has no big festival. It is the island’s quiet season, so the live calendar is mostly concerts, theater and talks. The annual events pick up again in February.

Live music

Jazz, bands and singers at the island’s restaurants and bars, all winter.

Arts and theater

Plays, concerts and gallery shows for a winter evening.

Dates move a little each year. For this year’s dates and everything else on, see the Hilton Head events calendar, which lists every event month by month.

Things to do on Hilton Head in January

With the beaches and paths at their emptiest, January is a month for biking, beach walks and golf. Tee times are easier to get than in spring, and cooler air makes walking a course comfortable.

Dogs can be on the beach at any time of day from October through March, on a leash or under voice control. Outdoor pools at most rentals and resorts are unheated or closed in the coldest weeks, so ask before you book if a pool matters.

Biking

More than 60 miles of paths, and in January you have them nearly to yourself.

Golf courses

Cool, quiet rounds and easier tee times than in spring.

Birds

Winter brings ducks and shorebirds to the marshes and sounds.

Things to do indoors

Museums and indoor ideas for the cold or wet days.

What to pack for Hilton Head in January

A warm jacket for evenings and cold fronts, a fleece or sweater for the day, long pants, a hat for windy beach walks and one or two short-sleeve shirts for the mild afternoons. Bring a rain layer as well.

Hilton Head weather in other months

To compare all 12 months in one table, with the live forecast, radar and water temperature, see Hilton Head weather by month, and for help choosing dates, the best time to visit Hilton Head.

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