Columbia weather in September

In September, Columbia sees average daytime highs of 84°F and overnight lows near 66°F, with 3.7 in of rain across 8.8 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 87°F in the first days to 80°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in September, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Columbia's 5th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Columbia's year-round climate.

Daytime high
84°
4th warmest
Overnight low
66°
9th coldest
Rainfall
3.7 in
8.8 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
6:12 AM – 6:25 PM
Cloud cover
55%
5th clearest
Wind
6 mph
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.61 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Columbia is capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina and seat of Richland County.

Density
416/km²
people per km²
Founded
1787

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 87°F in the first days to 80°F by the end.

A typical September day in Columbia reaches about 84°F in the afternoon and slips back to 66°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 76°F and 91°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 5°F cooler than August and about 9°F warmer than October.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18770
28770
38769
48769
58669
68669
78669
88668
98568
108568
118568
128567
138567
148467
158467
168466
178366
188366
198365
208365
218265
228265
238264
248264
258164
268163
278163
288062
298062
308062

How September really feels in Columbia

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 3 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
3
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

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

Columbia weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan56° / 37°3.59.10.6103.9
Feb59° / 40°3.48.30.410.74.7
Mar67° / 46°3.59.30.111.76.3
Apr75° / 54°3.38.1012.87.2
May82° / 62°3.09.4013.76.2
Jun88° / 70°4.313.5014.24.1
Jul90° / 73°4.415.30143.3
Aug89° / 72°4.213.4013.33.9
Sep84° / 66°3.78.8012.25.8
Oct75° / 55°3.37.1011.17.4
Nov65° / 45°2.87.2010.26.5
Dec58° / 39°3.78.80.19.84.5

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 46%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25347
35347
45347
55347
65347
75446
85446
95446
105446
115446
125347
135347
145347
155446
165347
175446
185347
195347
205347
215446
225446
235545
245545
255644
265743
275743
285743
295842
305842

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Columbia gets around 3.7 in of rain over 8.8 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 29% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
136
235
335
434
534
633
732
832
931
1030
1130
1229
1329
1428
1528
1628
1728
1828
1928
2028
2128
2228
2327
2427
2527
2626
2726
2826
2926
3025

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, September lands in the muggy band about 32% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 55% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1281533421
2281633410
3281733390
4391832380
5391833370
64101932350
74102032330
85112132320
96112132300
106112133290
117122133270
128122133260
139122133240
149132133230
1510132133220
1611132133210
1711142134200
1812142134190
1913142134180
2014142134180
2115152133170
2216152033160
2317152032150
2418162032140
2519162031130
2621172030120
2722172029110
2823182128110
2924182127100
3025182126100

Wind in September

Winds average 6 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 60 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 6:02 AM to 6:22 AM, and sunset from 6:46 PM to 6:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.76:026:46
212.76:026:45
312.76:036:43
412.66:046:42
512.66:046:41
612.66:056:39
712.56:066:38
812.56:076:36
912.56:076:35
1012.46:086:33
1112.46:096:32
1212.46:096:31
1312.36:106:29
1412.36:116:28
1512.26:116:26
1612.26:126:25
1712.26:136:23
1812.16:146:22
1912.16:146:20
2012.16:156:19
2112.06:166:17
2212.06:176:16
2312.06:176:15
2411.96:186:13
2511.96:196:12
2611.86:196:10
2711.86:206:09
2811.86:216:07
2911.76:226:06
3011.76:226:04

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.61 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.16 kWh/m² in June across the year — September's 4.61 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
55.0Bright
64.9Bright
74.9Bright
84.9Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.7Bright
134.7Bright
144.7Bright
154.6Bright
164.6Bright
174.6Bright
184.5Bright
194.5Bright
204.5Bright
214.4Bright
224.4Bright
234.4Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.2Bright
294.2Bright
304.2Bright
Planning a trip in September

Is September a good time to visit Columbia?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.8
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
7.0
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

September 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 September

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

In September, Columbia sees daytime highs around 84°F and nights near 66°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Columbia in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Columbia peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 9Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Columbia in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Columbia is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateModerateGoodJul 1617 µg/m³Dec 218 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar15Moderate
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Columbia?

Columbia sits at 34.0°N, 81.0°W, 292 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is West Columbia, 2.5 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 751 ft around an average of 240 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 932 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,175 ft.

The land around Columbia is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and trees (41%) within 2 miles, trees (68%) within 10 miles, and trees (77%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
751 ft
10 miles
932 ft
50 miles
1,175 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
September weather nearby: West Columbia 2.5 mi · Saint Andrews 5.0 mi · Seven Oaks 7.5 mi · Lexington 12 mi · Sumter 40 mi · Aiken 50 mi · North Augusta 63 mi · Rock Hill 64 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 (34.0007°, -81.0348°, elevation 292 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. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).