Columbia, SC weather in August
In August, Columbia sees highs around 94°F and lows around 71°F: hot and oppressively humid, with frequent rain. There are about 10 days with rain. It is one of the warmest months in Columbia. Plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings.
- Normal high
- 94°F
- Normal low
- 71°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 4.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 27
- dew point 65°F+
How August changes from start to finish
| August 1 | August 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 95°F | 92°F |
| Normal low | 72°F | 70°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:35 am / 8:25 pm | 6:57 am / 7:51 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 12.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical August day
- 6 am73°Fdew point 69°F
- 9 am80°Fdew point 70°F
- Noon87°Fdew point 69°F
- 3 pm89°Fdew point 68°F
- 6 pm86°Fdew point 68°F
- 9 pm79°Fdew point 70°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 41%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more25 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more27 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per August, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in August
Normal precipitation is 4.7 in; a dry August brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 5.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How August varies from year to year
- Warmest August, 1991-20202007: average high 101°F
- Coolest August1992: average high 89°F
- Wettest August2012: 9.8 in
- Driest August1997: 0.2 in
- Highest reading109°F (August 11, 2007)
- Lowest reading59°F (August 26, 2013)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
August compared with July and September
| July | August | September | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 96°F | 94°F | 89°F |
| Normal low | 72°F | 71°F | 66°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 14.2 h | 13.4 h | 12.4 h |
Highs change by -2°F from July and -5°F into September.
Nearby alternatives in August
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 89°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in August
- Normal high66th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days288th driest of 378
- Comfortable days311th most of 341
What to pack for Columbia in August
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 94°F and about 27 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
August has 0 heating degree days and 541 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in August?
The normal high is 94°F and the normal low is 71°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest August reading was 109°F (most recently on August 11, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in August?
About 10 days in August have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.7 in. The wettest August in 1991-2020 was in 2012 (9.8 in); the driest was in 1997 (0.2 in).
Is August a good time to visit Columbia?
August ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (34 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days and about 25 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are March and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Columbia Univ Of Sc (USC00381944), 0.9 mi SE of the city center, 223 ft (76 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia (USW00013883), 6.0 mi SW of the city center, 231 ft (68 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Metropolitan Airport (723100-13883), 6.3 mi SW of the city center, 224 ft (75 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.