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Weather & Climate in Columbia, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Columbia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 49.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 315 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)
81°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 64.5°F |
| 19% above US avg | |
| January Average | 50°F (10°C) |
| July Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 301 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Area | 132.2 sq mi (342.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 997/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 34.0405°N, 80.9061°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Richland County County |
| Nearest Airport | Hartsville Regional (HVS) 51 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 93.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 33.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 65.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
69 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.
| Feb 15, 2014 | 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina | M4.1 | 112 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 1992 | 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina | M4.1 | 136 km | 7 km |
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 55 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 135 km | 8 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 22 km | 3 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 141 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 22 km | 3 km |
| Jan 3, 1992 | 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina | M3.4 | 140 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 22 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 21 km | 4 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 132 km | 5 km |
| Jun 20, 2017 | 6 km SW of Augusta, Georgia | M3.2 | 123 km | 13 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 80 km | 9 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 128 km | 11 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 134 km | 10 km |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina | M3.0 | 113 km | 2 km |
| Mar 29, 1999 | 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M3.0 | 130 km | 11 km |
| Feb 16, 2014 | 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina | M3.0 | 110 km | 7 km |
| Mar 19, 2014 | 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 134 km | 7 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 127 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
17 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 1 | 86 mph | 178 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 217 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 239 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 92 mph | 231 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 174 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 92 mph | 273 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 298 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 181 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 168 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 268 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 271 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 296 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 240 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 264 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 76 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 208 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 240 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
498 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 28 fatalities, 463 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 53 km | 21.0 mi | 5 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 60 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 72 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 88 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 99 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 92 km | 35.7 mi | 2 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 81 km | 27.5 mi | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 89 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 47 km | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | EF3 | 53 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | EF3 | 39 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 30 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 32 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 34 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 87 km | 30.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF3 | 57 km | 19.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | EF3 | 77 km | 17.3 mi | 1 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | EF3 | 83 km | 77.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 86 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 61 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BURNING UNIT (5,567 acres, 2010).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2010 | BURNING UNIT | 5,567 | 87 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 5,322 | 8 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 3,481 | 49 km |
| 2010 | C-94-95 133 RX | 3,192 | 87 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 76 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,909 | 83 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 2,690 | 73 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 2,650 | 89 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,514 | 98 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 2,458 | 72 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,395 | 98 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,362 | 92 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 89 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 2,274 | 73 km |
| 2018 | UNNAMED | 2,262 | 99 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 2,237 | 99 km |
| 2010 | C-142 RX | 2,149 | 84 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 86 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 80 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 2,024 | 92 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F (10°C) | 4.5 in | |
| February | 47°F (8°C) | 3.6 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 4.5 in | |
| April | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 in | Driest |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.3 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 in | |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 5.0 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 4.7 in | |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 3.8 in | |
| October | 63°F (17°C) | 3.2 in | |
| November | 54°F (12°C) | 3.0 in | |
| December | 47°F (8°C) | 3.3 in | Coldest |
Columbia has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 47°F in December to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.0") and April the driest (2.8").