Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Columbia, South Carolina Weather

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Columbia weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Columbia, SC
Sunday, August 2 at 11:01 AM
77
°
Overcast
Feels like
85°
Humidity
94%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
2:35 AM
Sunset
4:23 PM
Columbia, SC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastColumbia, SC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit with a 41% chance of precipitation at 7 PM.
L 73°H 84°
Columbia, SC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Rain
    41%
    0.37″
    84°73°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Showers
    23%
    0.16″
    83°73°-1°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Heavy Drizzle
    59%
    —
    92°72°+9°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Showers
    49%
    0.01″
    92°72°0°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Light Drizzle
    48%
    —
    91°73°-1°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Light Drizzle
    29%
    —
    95°75°+4°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Heavy Drizzle
    37%
    —
    96°75°+1°
Columbia, SC
Next 24 hours · Mild now
70°78°86°12p6p12a6anow 76°high 84°low 73°PRECIP %
Columbia, SC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
157° · steady
Direction
SSE
157°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
11
mph
Peak 24h
21
avg 5 mph
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 5 mph · pk 21 mph @ 6:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 228SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze holding from the sse.
Columbia, SC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
998.7
+0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 29.49 inHg
Now
998.7
mb
3h
+0.5
mb
12h
-0.2
mb
24h
-2.4
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 998–1001
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1001.1997.8998.7
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Columbia, SC
Air quality
54
AQI
Moderate
→-2 in 6h

AQI 54 (Moderate), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 34. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~83%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
3.2μg/m³
PM 10Good
3μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
72μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.4

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 34. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~83%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 34
UV peak
3.4 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 8

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³450
Columbia, SC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
92%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
25.3mi
UNLIMITED
66 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
15:01 UTC · Columbia, SC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
15:01 UTC · Columbia, SC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Columbia, SC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Columbia, SC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Columbia, SC
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
6:09 AM
Sunrise
2:35 AM
Daylight
13h 48m
Sunset
4:23 PM
Civil dusk
8:52 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Columbia, SC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
10:05 PM
Moonset
10:26 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Columbia, SC
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Columbia at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 9°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 11 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 29201, 29203, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29207, 29208, 29209 +5 more

16-Day Forecast — Columbia

  1. Sun84°73°48%
  2. Mon83°73°23%
  3. Tue92°72°59%
  4. Wed92°72°49%
  5. Thu91°73°48%
  6. Fri95°75°29%
  7. Sat96°75°37%
  8. Sun95°73°43%
  9. Mon95°72°29%
  10. Tue96°74°27%
  11. Wed97°74°21%
  12. Thu99°75°24%
  13. Fri96°75°37%
  14. Sat97°75°48%
  15. Sun95°75°42%
  16. Mon95°76°52%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Columbia

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Columbia

SPC has placed Columbia in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Columbia

Columbia sits in Richland County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 25m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 53m — a swing of +4h 33m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Charleston, the state’s largest city, lies about 100 miles to the SSE. The nearest town Columbia tracks is Edisto, roughly 39 miles to the S.

Air quality in Columbia’s county has trended dirtier since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2020 (median AQI 40). See the full air-quality history for Columbia.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

Sunset slides back toward 8 PM; darkness creeps in, signaling summer's decline though heat persists.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

In Columbia, July runs warmest near 82°F and January coldest around 45°F, while August is the wettest month (5.7 inches) and October the driest (2.1 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January45°4.0″14
February49°3.4″12
March56°4.1″13
April64°3.4″13
May72°2.9″14
June79°3.9″17
July82°4.9″23
August80°5.7″25
September76°3.3″15
October67°2.1″9
November56°2.9″11
December48°4.0″13

Regional context

In Columbia, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 45°F and July near 82°F — a 37°F seasonal arc — with about 44.7 inches of precipitation over 180 rainy or snowy days.

Columbia's precipitation spreads evenly: August peaks at 5.7 inches on 24.5 wet days, while October holds 2.1 inches over 9.5 — no month dominates Columbia's rain calendar. That lines Columbia up with places like Woodfield, SC, Arcadia Lakes, SC and Forest Acres, SC, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Hard freezes are rare in Columbia: the coldest month averages 45°F, so Columbia's growing window runs most of the year. July is the hottest stretch near 82°F, pushing cool-season crops to the milder shoulder months. Within Columbia, low or inland lots lose 3-5°F overnight versus Columbia's coastal ground.

Similar climates: Woodfield, SC, Arcadia Lakes, SC, Forest Acres, SC, Dentsville, SC, Capitol View, SC.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the peak migration of wood warblers through Columbia's area, with dozens of species passing through during their northward journey.

Cherokee roses typically reach full bloom in May, their white petals opening as temperatures consistently warm.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Columbia?
Frost typically leaves Columbia by mid-March and returns to Columbia near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Columbia?
August is the wettest month in Columbia, about 5.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 45 inches.
What is the warmest month in Columbia?
The warmest stretch in Columbia comes in July, around 82°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Columbia?
On average January is the chilliest month in Columbia, about 45°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Columbia?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-March in Columbia; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Columbia get?
Columbia records around 180 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Columbia?
Columbia's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 45°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Columbia?
Columbia's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Columbia?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Columbia in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Columbia?
Current conditions for Columbia and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Columbia forecast updated?
The Columbia forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Columbia?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Columbia are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Columbia?
The next few days in Columbia's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Columbia's humid subtropical climate in South Carolina pairs 45°F Januarys with 82°F Julys, 37°F apart across the seasons.

Columbia sees close to 45 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 180 wet days.

The 37°F gap between Columbia's summer and winter, at 34.0°N, shapes Columbia's frost calendar.

All cities in South Carolina →

Charleston, SC weather →

ZIP codes in Columbia

  • 29203
  • 29207
  • 29205
  • 29208
  • 29209
  • 29225
  • 29212
  • 29210
  • 29201
  • 29206
  • 29204
  • 29202
  • 29214
  • 29215
  • 29216
  • 29217
  • 29218
  • 29220
  • 29224
  • 29226
  • 29240
  • 29250

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.