Columbia, SC weather in July
July in Columbia: hot and oppressively humid, with frequent rain. Highs 96°F, lows 72°F, about 12 wet days. This is the peak of the warm season in Columbia. Midday heat is the main thing to plan around.
- Normal high
- 96°F
- Normal low
- 72°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 5.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 28
- dew point 65°F+
How July changes from start to finish
| July 1 | July 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 95°F | 95°F |
| Normal low | 71°F | 72°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:16 am / 8:39 pm | 6:35 am / 8:26 pm |
| Daylight | 14.4 h | 13.8 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 July day
- 6 am73°Fdew point 70°F
- 9 am82°Fdew point 71°F
- Noon89°Fdew point 69°F
- 3 pm90°Fdew point 68°F
- 6 pm87°Fdew point 69°F
- 9 pm80°Fdew point 70°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 28% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more28 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more28 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 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 July, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in July
Normal precipitation is 5.3 in; a dry July brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 7.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How July varies from year to year
- Warmest July, 1991-20202016: average high 101°F
- Coolest July2013: average high 89°F
- Wettest July1991: 17.5 in
- Driest July2015: 1.5 in
- Highest reading109°F (July 1, 2012)
- Lowest reading60°F (July 28, 2019)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
July compared with June and August
| June | July | August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 93°F | 96°F | 94°F |
| Normal low | 69°F | 72°F | 71°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 14.4 h | 14.2 h | 13.4 h |
Highs change by +3°F from June and -2°F into August.
Nearby alternatives in July
- Drier: Raleigh, NC183 mi · high 91°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 90°F · 11 wet days
How Columbia ranks in July
- Normal high44th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days309th driest of 378
- Comfortable days305th most of 340
What to pack for Columbia in July
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 96°F and about 28 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.2 hours of daylight and highs near 96°F
Heating and cooling
July has 0 heating degree days and 584 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in July?
The normal high is 96°F and the normal low is 72°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest July reading was 109°F (most recently on July 1, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in July?
About 12 days in July have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.4 in. The wettest July in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (17.5 in); the driest was in 2015 (1.5 in).
Is July a good time to visit Columbia?
July ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (34 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days and about 28 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.