Columbia in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Columbia sees average daytime highs around 89°F and overnight lows near 72°F, with 12.9 in of rain over about 42 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 89°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Columbia's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Columbia's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 89°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 72°F
- Rainfall
- 12.9 in
- 42 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 mph
- Travel score
- 3.8
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Columbia in Summer
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 89°F.
A typical summer day in Columbia reaches about 89°F and drops to 72°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Columbia
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 81 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
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.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56° / 37° | 3.5 | 9.1 | 0.6 | 10 | 3.9 |
| Feb | 59° / 40° | 3.4 | 8.3 | 0.4 | 10.7 | 4.7 |
| Mar | 67° / 46° | 3.5 | 9.3 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 6.3 |
| Apr | 75° / 54° | 3.3 | 8.1 | 0 | 12.8 | 7.2 |
| May | 82° / 62° | 3.0 | 9.4 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.2 |
| Jun | 88° / 70° | 4.3 | 13.5 | 0 | 14.2 | 4.1 |
| Jul | 90° / 73° | 4.4 | 15.3 | 0 | 14 | 3.3 |
| Aug | 89° / 72° | 4.2 | 13.4 | 0 | 13.3 | 3.9 |
| Sep | 84° / 66° | 3.7 | 8.8 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.8 |
| Oct | 75° / 55° | 3.3 | 7.1 | 0 | 11.1 | 7.4 |
| Nov | 65° / 45° | 2.8 | 7.2 | 0 | 10.2 | 6.5 |
| Dec | 58° / 39° | 3.7 | 8.8 | 0.1 | 9.8 | 4.5 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Columbia gets around 12.9 in of rain over 42 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 5 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min in early June to 12 h 48 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.9 kWh/m².
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.
summer is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Columbia.
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 89°F and nights near 72°F. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 42 days see rain.
UV index in Columbia in Summer
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 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | Moderate |
| Mar | 6 | High |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 7 | Very high |
| Oct | 5 | Moderate |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Columbia in Summer
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 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
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.
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
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.