Columbia, SC Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Columbia
Set in South Carolina, United States, Columbia works through a humid subtropical year: July afternoons near 92°F (33°C), January afternoons near 56°F (13°C), and about 46.8 inches (1188 mm) of precipitation between them.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 92°F (33°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 56°F (13°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 101°F (38°C) high · 15°F (-10°C) low
- Wettest month: December (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 20°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 3 months of the year, June through August being the unbroken run. January is the coolest month, with highs of 56°F (13°C) and lows near 38°F (3°C). At its warmest, in July, Columbia runs to 92°F (33°C) in the afternoon and back to 74°F (23°C) by dawn. Sunshine averages 9.3 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 11.7 hours.
Rain, sun and snow
Days and nights are about 10°C apart on average - wider than roughly 78% of the cities we track. Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is March through April. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 101°F (38°C) and bottoms at 15°F (-10°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Columbia compares
- 28% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than almost every other city we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 38° | 10 | 4.2 in | 7.1 h/day | 10.1 h | 32% | 71% |
| February | 61° | 42° | 9 | 3.6 in | 7.5 h/day | 10.9 h | 32% | 71% |
| March | 68° | 47° | 10 | 3.4 in | 8.2 h/day | 11.9 h | 31% | 66% |
| April | 76° | 53° | 8 | 3.8 in | 10.4 h/day | 13.0 h | 28% | 62% |
| May | 83° | 62° | 10 | 3.9 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.9 h | 31% | 66% |
| June | 89° | 70° | 12 | 3.4 in | 11.6 h/day | 14.4 h | 40% | 69% |
| July | 92° | 74° | 15 | 4.4 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.2 h | 48% | 71% |
| August | 89° | 72° | 14 | 4.6 in | 11.0 h/day | 13.4 h | 44% | 74% |
| September | 85° | 67° | 10 | 4.4 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.3 h | 32% | 72% |
| October | 76° | 57° | 6 | 3.4 in | 9.1 h/day | 11.3 h | 21% | 73% |
| November | 65° | 47° | 8 | 2.9 in | 7.8 h/day | 10.3 h | 27% | 71% |
| December | 59° | 42° | 10 | 5.0 in | 6.5 h/day | 9.9 h | 31% | 75% |
Columbia month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Columbia's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 7.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
February
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
July
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
December
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Columbia
Spring (March through May)
Spring is pleasantly warm here - highs near 75°F (24°C), nights near 54°F (12°C), and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Columbia sits firmly in the heat: 90°F (32°C) by day, 72°F (22°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Columbia is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 75°F (24°C) and nights around 57°F (14°C); expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Columbia is crisp but comfortable: 59°F (15°C) by day, 41°F (5°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is Columbia?
How much do temperatures drop at night in Columbia?
How long does summer last in Columbia?
Is Columbia hot in summer?
What should I pack for Columbia?
Best time to visit Columbia
Aim for February to May and October to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 71°F (22°C) against roughly 9 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in February.
Pack for Columbia with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 74°F (23°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Columbia temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.