Columbia in January is a bit of a trickster. You wake up expecting that classic Southern mildness, but then the wind hits you. Honestly, if you aren't prepared for the way the humidity carries the chill here, you’re going to have a rough morning.
Right now, as of Thursday night, January 15, 2026, it’s a crisp 29°F outside. But don't let that number fool you. With the wind coming out of the northwest at 7 mph, the "feels like" temperature is actually sitting at a biting 23°F. It's the kind of cold that finds the gaps in your scarf.
The Immediate Forecast: A Frigid Start
We just came off a day where the sun was out, hitting a high of 42°F, but the air was incredibly dry. The humidity dropped to about 33% earlier, which is why the National Weather Service actually issued a Special Weather Statement for increased fire danger today. When you mix dry fuels with those northwest gusts—which peaked around 13 mph—even a small spark can get out of hand fast in the Midlands.
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Tonight is staying clear. That's why the temperature is cratering toward a low of 21°F. If you have sensitive plants or haven't covered your outdoor spigots, do it now.
What to Expect This Weekend
Friday looks like a carbon copy of today but maybe a touch more tolerable. We’re looking at sunny skies and a high pushing into the mid-to-upper 50s. But don't put the heavy coat away just yet. There’s a bit of a weather "sandwich" happening.
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Saturday morning starts with a chance of light rain. Then things get weird on Sunday. We are tracking a 50% chance of a "frozen mix"—basically a messy cocktail of rain and snow showers moving through the Midlands. It won't be a blizzard, but for Columbia, any mention of the "S" word usually sends everyone to the grocery store for bread and milk.
- Friday: Sunny, high of 49°F, low of 37°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, climbing to 56°F.
- Sunday: The "Frozen Mix" day. High of 45°F, dropping to 30°F at night.
The Weird Science of Columbia’s Humidity
Most people think high humidity only matters in the summer when the air feels like a wet blanket. In a weather report for columbia south carolina, we have to talk about "cold humidity." When the relative humidity stays around 40% to 82% during a South Carolina winter, it makes the cold feel "heavy." It seeps into your bones in a way that a dry 20-degree day in Colorado just doesn't.
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Survival Tips for the Next 48 Hours
Basically, you've got to layer. The swing from a 21°F morning to a 56°F Saturday afternoon is exactly how people end up catching a cold.
- Hydrate your skin. This dry Arctic air coming off the northwest is brutal on the hands and face.
- Watch the wind. Those 25 mph gusts we saw today are tapering off, but it’ll stay breezy enough to keep the wind chill factor relevant.
- Check the pipes. We are well below the freezing mark tonight.
Keep an eye on that Sunday window. Even if the snow doesn't stick, the transition from rain to a frozen mix can make the bridges over the Congaree River incredibly slick before the salt trucks can even get out there.
Stay warm, keep the pets inside, and maybe grab an extra sweater for that Friday morning commute.
Next Steps for You:
Check your tire pressure tonight, as these sudden temperature drops usually trigger those annoying "low pressure" sensors. If you're planning to travel Sunday morning, keep a close watch on the local radar for that rain-to-snow transition period between 8:00 AM and noon.