Columbia, SC weather in January
Columbia is cool in January, with some rain: highs average 60°F and nights drop to about 37°F. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. It is one of the coolest months in Columbia.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 59°F | 61°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 38°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:29 am / 5:25 pm | 7:21 am / 5:53 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.5 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 January day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon51°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 40% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below11 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry January brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 4.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 66°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 55°F
- Wettest January2000: 8.9 in
- Driest January2009: 1.1 in
- Highest reading83°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading11°F (January 20, 1994)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 60°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 37°F | 40°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 11 | 10 | 13 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.2 h | 11.0 h |
Highs change by -1°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 52°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in January
- Normal high104th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days191st driest of 378
- Comfortable days77th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 60°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
January has 525 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Columbia in January?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 11°F (most recently on January 20, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (8.9 in); the driest was in 2009 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Columbia?
January ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (55 out of 100). It has about 10 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.