Columbia, SC weather in September
Columbia is hot and often humid in September, with some rain: highs average 89°F and nights drop to about 66°F. Rain falls on about 8 days.
- Normal high
- 89°F
- Normal low
- 66°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 3.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 16
- dew point 65°F+
How September changes from start to finish
| September 1 | September 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 92°F | 85°F |
| Normal low | 69°F | 61°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:57 am / 7:50 pm | 7:17 am / 7:10 pm |
| Daylight | 12.9 h | 11.9 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 September day
- 6 am67°Fdew point 63°F
- 9 am74°Fdew point 65°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 63°F
- 3 pm84°Fdew point 62°F
- 6 pm81°Fdew point 63°F
- 9 pm74°Fdew point 65°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia (6 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 34% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more15 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more16 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 30
Average days per September, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in September
Normal precipitation is 3.9 in; a dry September brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 5.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How September varies from year to year
- Warmest September, 1991-20202019: average high 97°F
- Coolest September1995: average high 84°F
- Wettest September2002: 7.4 in
- Driest September2005: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading104°F (September 5, 2002)
- Lowest reading48°F (September 22, 2020)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
September compared with August and October
| August | September | October | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 94°F | 89°F | 80°F |
| Normal low | 71°F | 66°F | 54°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Daylight | 13.4 h | 12.4 h | 11.3 h |
Highs change by -5°F from August and -9°F into October.
Nearby alternatives in September
- Cooler: Charlotte, NC85 mi · high 83°F · 8 wet days
How Columbia ranks in September
- Normal high78th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days199th driest of 378
- Comfortable days279th most of 342
What to pack for Columbia in September
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 89°F and about 16 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 8 days
Heating and cooling
September has 3 heating degree days and 370 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Columbia in September?
The normal high is 89°F and the normal low is 66°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest September reading was 104°F (September 5, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in September?
About 8 days in September have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest September in 1991-2020 was in 2002 (7.4 in); the driest was in 2005, with no measurable precipitation.
Is September a good time to visit Columbia?
September ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (41 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day and about 15 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.