Columbia, SC weather in December
December in Columbia: cool, with some rain. Highs 61°F, lows 39°F, about 9 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Columbia.
- Normal high
- 61°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 3.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 64°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:11 am / 5:14 pm | 7:29 am / 5:24 pm |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.9 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 December day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 37°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 37°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm47°Fdew point 39°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below9 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.7 in; a dry December brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 4.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 70°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 51°F
- Wettest December2019: 9.3 in
- Driest December2000: 1.0 in
- Highest reading84°F (December 4, 1998)
- Lowest reading17°F (December 31, 2000)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 61°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 39°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 11 | 10 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.2 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 55°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in December
- Normal high103rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days175th driest of 378
- Comfortable days63rd most of 340
What to pack for Columbia in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 61°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Heating and cooling
December has 469 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Columbia in December?
The normal high is 61°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 17°F (most recently on December 31, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in December?
About 9 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (9.3 in); the driest was in 2000 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.1 in.
Is December a good time to visit Columbia?
December ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (56 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. 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.