Columbia in Summer

In summer (June, July and August), Columbia sees average daytime highs around 86°F and overnight lows near 67°F, with 11.1 in of rain over about 30 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the 2nd-wettest season.

Over the season highs climb from about 80°F in early June to 85°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.

Summer is Columbia's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Columbia's year-round climate.

Avg daytime high
86°F
warmest season of the year
Avg overnight low
67°F
Rainfall
11.1 in
30 wet days
Avg wind
6 mph
Travel score
5.1
2nd-best season
Months
Jun · Jul · Aug

Temperature in Columbia in Summer

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs climb from about 80°F in early June to 85°F by late August.

A typical summer day in Columbia reaches about 86°F and drops to 67°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.

60°80°100°JunJulAug

How summer really feels in Columbia

Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 24 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
24
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Columbia weather by month

How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan38° / 23°2.27.23.79.60.0
Feb44° / 27°2.36.92.910.50.7
Mar55° / 36°3.410.71.611.73.4
Apr65° / 46°5.111.60.3135.6
May74° / 56°5.313.3014.16.2
Jun83° / 66°4.411.9014.75.4
Jul88° / 69°3.79.5014.54.7
Aug86° / 67°3.08.9013.55.2
Sep79° / 59°3.47.7012.37.1
Oct67° / 47°3.38.80.1116.4
Nov53° / 36°3.17.81.19.93.3
Dec42° / 27°2.36.92.39.30.4

Cloud cover in Summer

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time across summer.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Chance of precipitation in Summer

Any precipitation

Columbia gets around 11.1 in of rain over 30 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

0%10%20%30%40%50%JunJulAug

Humidity in Summer

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Wind in Summer

Winds average 6 mph across summer.

0246810JunJulAug

Sunrise & sunset in Summer

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 30 min in early June to 12 h 54 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AMJunJulAug

Solar energy in Summer

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.2 kWh/m².

0246JunJulAug
Planning a trip in summer

Is summer a good time to visit Columbia?

Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

5.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

summer is a reasonable time to visit Columbia for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Columbia in Summer

From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In summer, Columbia sees daytime highs around 86°F and nights near 67°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 30 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

UV index in Columbia in Summer

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Columbia peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Dec 23UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May7Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Columbia in Summer

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Columbia is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1616 µg/m³Nov 117 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr10Good
May13Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Columbia?

Columbia sits at 39.0°N, 92.3°W, 705 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Jefferson City, 27 mi away.

Topography around Columbia

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Columbia.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Columbia has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 220 ft around an average of 728 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 387 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 640 ft.

The land around Columbia is covered by trees (47%) and artificial surfaces (35%) within 2 miles, trees (52%) and grassland (30%) within 10 miles, and trees (41%), cropland (32%) and grassland (25%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
220 ft
10 miles
387 ft
50 miles
640 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
Summer weather nearby: Jefferson City 27 mi · Sedalia 51 mi · Hannibal 74 mi · Rolla 76 mi · Warrensburg 76 mi · Wentzville 80 mi · Quincy 84 mi · Fort Leonard Wood 86 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Columbia (38.9517°, -92.3341°, elevation 705 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.