Columbia, SC weather in October
Expect warm weather with some rain in Columbia in October, with highs near 80°F and lows near 54°F. Rain falls on about 7 days. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 80°F
- Normal low
- 54°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 3.1 in total
- Muggy days
- 4
- dew point 65°F+
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 85°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 61°F | 48°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 25% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 7:08 pm | 7:42 am / 6:32 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.8 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 October day
- 6 am56°Fdew point 52°F
- 9 am63°Fdew point 55°F
- Noon73°Fdew point 54°F
- 3 pm75°Fdew point 53°F
- 6 pm70°Fdew point 55°F
- 9 pm63°Fdew point 56°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 46% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F13 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more2 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more4 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in October
Normal precipitation is 3.1 in; a dry October brings about 1.6 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.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202019: average high 85°F
- Coolest October2011: average high 76°F
- Wettest October2015: 14.5 in
- Driest October2000: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading104°F (October 4, 2019)
- Lowest reading32°F (October 26, 2013)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 89°F | 80°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 66°F | 54°F | 44°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 13 | 16 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.3 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by -9°F from September and -11°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 73°F · 7 wet days
How Columbia ranks in October
- Normal high92nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days138th driest of 378
- Comfortable days139th most of 340
What to pack for Columbia in October
- Layers – afternoons near 80°F but nights near 54°F
Heating and cooling
October has 68 heating degree days and 126 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 4% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in October?
The normal high is 80°F and the normal low is 54°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest October reading was 104°F (October 4, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in October?
About 7 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.1 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (14.5 in); the driest was in 2000, with no measurable precipitation.
Is October a good time to visit Columbia?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (63 out of 100). It has about 13 comfortable days and about 2 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.