Look, I know what you're thinking. It's South Carolina. It’s supposed to be all sweet tea and humid breezes, right? Well, if you're standing on Main Street this week, you’re basically going to need a parka and maybe a sturdy umbrella, at least for the first twenty-four hours.
Columbia is a weird place when it comes to weather. It's famously "Famously Hot," but January doesn't care about your branding. This week is shaping up to be a classic example of why local meteorologists have trust issues. We’re oscillating between "wet and soggy" and "bone-chillingly clear" faster than you can grab a burger at Pawleys Front Porch.
Sunday’s Reality Check: The Columbia SC 5 Day Forecast Starts Wet
Honestly, today—Sunday, January 18—is kinda gross. If you had plans to walk around Riverbanks Zoo or hit the Congaree Riverwalk, you might want to pivot. We’re looking at a 75% chance of rain during the day. It’s not a "light drizzle" situation either; it’s that cold, soaking rain that makes the 45°F high feel like you’re standing in a walk-in freezer.
The wind is kicking up from the northwest at about 9 mph. It’s not enough to blow your roof off, but it’s enough to make that damp air bite. The silver lining? The rain clears out by tonight. We’re dropping down to 28°F, and the sky is going to unzip and show some stars.
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Monday: The MLK Day Outlook
Monday, January 19, is actually looking pretty decent for the "King Day at the Dome" events. It’s going to be sunny with a high of 51°F. That’s still about five degrees cooler than our historical average for mid-January, which usually sits around 56°F, but hey, at least you won't be getting rained on.
The humidity is going to crater down to 45%. It’s going to be dry. Really dry. You’ve probably noticed your skin feeling like parchment paper lately, and Monday won’t help. The wind shifts to coming from the west, keeping things crisp.
The Deep Freeze: Tuesday and Wednesday
This is the part of the Columbia SC 5 day forecast where things get a bit "South Carolina cold."
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Tuesday, January 20, is going to be the coldest day of the bunch. We’re topping out at 48°F and plummeting to a low of 24°F overnight. For those of you new to the Midlands, 24 degrees is "pipe-bursting territory" if you live in some of the older bungalows in Shandon or Rosewood.
- Check your outdoor spigots.
- Bring in the plants you swore you’d keep alive this winter.
- Maybe let the faucet drip if your insulation is sketchy.
Wednesday doesn't offer much relief on the low end. We’re hitting a low of 23°F—the coldest point of the week. Interestingly, the daytime high climbs to 53°F. That’s a 30-degree swing. It’s that classic SC winter struggle where you wear a heavy coat in the morning and end up carrying it like a tired toddler by 2:00 PM.
Why the Humidity Matters
We often talk about the humidity in Columbia during July, when it feels like you’re breathing through a warm, wet rag. In January, it's the opposite. By Wednesday, the humidity is sitting around 46%. When the air is this dry and the UV index is low (around a 2 or 3), the cold feels "sharper." It doesn't cling to you, but it cuts through layers.
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Thursday and Beyond: The Creep Toward 60
By the time we hit Thursday, January 22, the pattern starts to shift. We’re looking at partly sunny skies and a high of 57°F. It’s basically the "Goldilocks" day of the week—not too hot, not too cold.
We’ve got a slight 10% chance of rain, but honestly, it’s mostly just clouds moving in ahead of the next system. The wind stays steady at 8 mph from the west. If you’ve been putting off yard work or a trip to the Soda City Market (even though that's a Saturday staple), Thursday is your window to get outside without shivering.
Historical Nuance: Is This Normal?
If you look at the data from the last century in Richland County, the average January temperature is about 44.8°F. This week is hovering right around that mark, though those overnight lows in the 20s are definitely on the "brisk" side of the spectrum.
People forget that Columbia actually holds the record for some of the state’s weirdest winter weather. We aren't seeing snow in this 5-day window—despite what that one uncle on Facebook might be claiming based on a "feeling" in his knees—but the moisture on Sunday followed by the freeze on Tuesday is a recipe for some black ice on the bridges if the drainage isn't perfect.
Actionable Steps for the Week
- Sunday: Stay inside. Watch the game. If you have to go out, the rain is expected to be heaviest in the morning and afternoon.
- Monday: Great for outdoor events, but layer up. The sun is deceptive when it’s 50 degrees with a breeze.
- Tuesday/Wednesday: This is the peak of the cold. If you use a space heater, keep it three feet away from... well, everything. The City of Columbia usually puts out warnings about this for a reason.
- Thursday: The best day for a walk at the Horseshoe or a run through Harbison State Forest.
The Columbia SC 5 day forecast shows a city that is firmly in the grip of winter, but with enough sun to remind us why we live here. Just don't trust the clear skies on Tuesday night—they're just an invitation for the heat to escape into space and leave us shivering at 24 degrees.