Columbia Metro Area, SC Climate

The climate in the Columbia, SC Metro Area is generally mild and pleasant. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching into the 90s. Winters are cold but rarely experience freezing temperatures. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, with an average of 45 inches of rain annually. Spring and autumn are mild with temperatures usually staying in the 60s to 70s range. Overall, Columbia enjoys a temperate climate that allows for enjoyable outdoor activities all year round.

Columbia Metro Area, South Carolina gets 46 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Columbia Metro Area averages 1 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 223 sunny days per year in Columbia Metro Area. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Columbia Metro Area gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 104 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.

Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 92 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 33
Rain: averages 46 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 1 inches of snow a year

Bestplaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for the Columbia metro area is 7.3 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in South Carolina.

5.1 Summer - 7.2 Winter

October, May and April are the most pleasant months in the Columbia metro area, while July and August are the least comfortable months.

Climate	Columbia, South Carolina	United States
	45.5 in.	38.1 in.
	0.8 in.	27.8 in.
	103.8 days	106.2 days
	223 days	205 days
	92.4°	85.8°
	33.0°	21.7°
	7.3	7
	4.9	4.3
	343 ft.	2443 ft.

Climate

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

July is the hottest month for the Columbia metro area with an average high temperature of 92.4°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in South Carolina. In the Columbia metro area, there are 3 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for the Columbia metro area are April, October and May.

In the Columbia metro area, there are 67.0 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in South Carolina.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for the Columbia metro area with an average of 33.0°. This is about average compared to other places in South Carolina.

In the Columbia metro area, there are 50.5 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in South Carolina.

In the Columbia metro area, there are 0.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in South Carolina.

Humidity in the Columbia metro area can be uncomfortable during the summer, but comfortable for most of the year. The most uncomfortably humid months are July, August and June. The humid season runs from June-September and the most comfortable months are October-May.

August is the wettest month in the Columbia metro area with 5.0 inches of rain, and the driest month is April with 2.8 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 32% of yearly precipitation and 22% occurs in Summer, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 45.5 inches in the Columbia metro area means that it is drier than most places in South Carolina.

July is the rainiest month in the Columbia metro area with 10.6 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 6.9 rainy days. There are 103.8 rainy days annually in the Columbia metro area, which is about average compared to other places in South Carolina. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 29% of the time and the driest is Winter with only a 21% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 0.8 inches in the Columbia metro area means that it is about average compared to other places in South Carolina. January is the snowiest month in the Columbia metro area with 0.5 inches of snow, and 1 month of the year have significant snowfall.

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