Columbia, SC weather in May
Columbia is warm in May, with some rain: highs average 87°F and nights drop to about 62°F. Rain falls on about 9 days.
- Normal high
- 87°F
- Normal low
- 62°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 3.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 7
- dew point 65°F+
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 84°F | 90°F |
| Normal low | 58°F | 66°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:34 am / 8:07 pm | 6:14 am / 8:29 pm |
| Daylight | 13.6 h | 14.3 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 May day
- 6 am63°Fdew point 58°F
- 9 am73°Fdew point 59°F
- Noon79°Fdew point 58°F
- 3 pm82°Fdew point 57°F
- 6 pm80°Fdew point 57°F
- 9 pm72°Fdew point 60°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 35% 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°F4 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more12 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more7 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in May
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry May brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 4.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202019: average high 93°F
- Coolest May2013: average high 82°F
- Wettest May2002: 9.4 in
- Driest May2007: 0.4 in
- Highest reading105°F (May 28, 2019)
- Lowest reading42°F (May 10, 2020)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 81°F | 87°F | 93°F |
| Normal low | 54°F | 62°F | 69°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 9 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Daylight | 13.1 h | 13.9 h | 14.4 h |
Highs change by +6°F from April and +6°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 80°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in May
- Normal high31st warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days159th driest of 378
- Comfortable days278th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in May
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 87°F and about 7 muggy days
- Layers – afternoons near 87°F but nights near 62°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Heating and cooling
May has 8 heating degree days and 302 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in May?
The normal high is 87°F and the normal low is 62°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest May reading was 105°F (May 28, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in May?
About 9 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2002 (9.4 in); the driest was in 2007 (0.4 in).
Is May a good time to visit Columbia?
May ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (50 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days and about 12 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.