If you’ve spent any time in the Midlands, you know the drill. You wake up and it’s basically freezing. By noon, you’re reconsidering that heavy parka because the sun is out and it's suddenly 55 degrees. Lexington is tricky like that. Right now, as we hit the middle of January 2026, the lexington south carolina weather forecast is doing exactly what it loves to do: keeping everyone guessing with a mix of biting cold and weirdly pleasant sunny stretches.
Honestly, the weather here isn't just about a number on a screen. It’s about that specific damp cold that sinks into your bones because the humidity stays high even when the mercury drops.
What the Next Few Days Actually Look Like
We are looking at a classic South Carolina winter rollercoaster. Today, Friday, January 16, we’ve got full sun with highs struggling to reach 50°F. It sounds manageable, but with those northwest winds kicking up, the "feels like" temp is going to be sitting in the low 40s most of the afternoon.
Tonight is the real kicker. We’re heading toward a low of 21°F. That’s a hard freeze. If you haven't wrapped your outdoor pipes or brought in the last of those "hardy" potted plants that you swore would survive the winter, now is the time.
Saturday is going to feel like a completely different season. We’ll see a jump up to 58°F. It’ll be breezy, maybe even gusty, but that’s the "milder" window before the next system rolls through. By Sunday morning, there’s a 50% chance of rain mixed with a few snowflakes. Don't go buying out the milk and bread at the Publix on Sunset Blvd just yet—accumulation is looking like zero. It’s mostly just going to be a cold, messy morning followed by a clearing afternoon.
The Polar Vortex Rumors
You might have heard people talking about the Polar Vortex again. There is some truth to it this year. Meteorologists are watching a weakening in the stratospheric polar vortex, which basically means the "fence" holding the arctic air up north is getting flimsy. For Lexington, this usually results in these sharp, 48-hour deep freezes followed by rapid warming.
January 17th is historically the coldest day of the year in our area. This year is sticking pretty close to that script.
Understanding the Lexington South Carolina Weather Forecast Long-Term
If you are planning out the rest of your month, don't expect a sudden spring. The long-range outlook for late January 2026 suggests we’ll stay below average for temperatures. We’re looking at an average high of about 54°F for the month, but we’ve been trending a few degrees cooler than that lately.
The Humidity Factor
People think humidity is a "summer only" problem in South Carolina. Nope. In January, the relative humidity in Lexington often averages around 82%. When it’s 35 degrees and 80% humidity, that air is "heavy." It pulls heat away from your body faster than dry air does. That is why a 35-degree day in Lexington feels way more miserable than a 25-degree day in a place like Colorado.
- Average Highs: Usually mid-50s.
- Average Lows: Hovering right around 35°F-36°F.
- Rainfall: We usually see about 3.5 inches in January.
- Sunshine: Surprisingly, we get clear skies about 50% of the time.
Winter Myths in the Midlands
The biggest misconception about the lexington south carolina weather forecast is that we don't get "real" winter. Tell that to anyone who lived through the 1973 storm that dumped over a foot of snow on the Columbia metro area. While we haven't seen anything like that recently, the threat of ice is much more real than snow.
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Lexington sits in a transition zone. Often, the air a few thousand feet up is warm enough for rain, but the ground is still frozen. That leads to freezing rain—the stuff that brings down pine limbs on North Lake Drive and knocks out the power.
Looking Ahead to February
If you're over the cold, February 2026 actually looks a bit more promising. Early projections show a shift toward warmer-than-average temperatures by the second week of the month. We might see those early "false spring" days where the Bradford Pears start thinking about blooming (and then inevitably get hit by a late frost).
The wettest month for us is actually June, but January and February provide that steady, soaking rain that keeps the water levels up in Lake Murray. Speaking of the lake, it actually acts as a tiny climate regulator for those living right on the water. The water retains heat longer than the land, so if you're in a house right on the shore, you might be 2 or 3 degrees warmer than someone over in Gilbert or Red Bank during a cold snap.
Practical Steps for the Current Forecast
Since we’re looking at several nights in the low 20s and high teens, here is what you actually need to do:
- Drip the Faucets: Just the ones on exterior walls. You don't need a stream; a steady drip is enough to keep the water moving so it won't freeze.
- Check Your Tires: Cold air makes tire pressure drop. If your "low pressure" light came on this morning, it’s not a glitch—it’s physics.
- Watch the Wind: Saturday's gusts could reach 25-30 mph. Secure your trash cans and any loose patio furniture.
- Pet Safety: If it's too cold for you to stand outside in a light jacket for ten minutes, it's too cold for your dog to be out all night.
The lexington south carolina weather forecast for the rest of this week is basically a test of patience. We've got the sun, which helps, but that wind chill is going to be the main character through Tuesday. Stay warm, keep the layers handy, and remember that in South Carolina, if you don't like the weather, you really just have to wait about three days for it to flip-flop.
Stay updated by checking the local NWS station at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE), as they provide the most accurate data for our specific slice of Lexington County.