Whitecaps are already forming on Lake Murray as southwest winds pick up across Columbia this morning. Docks creak, and small boats tug hard against their lines.
South Carolina is under a Lake Wind Advisory until 4 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph will gust up to 35 mph through midafternoon. Rough waves will create hazardous conditions for small craft on area lakes, including Lake Murray and Lake Wateree.
Boaters should use extreme caution today.
Temperatures are climbing quickly, reaching near 82 degrees this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms remain likely before early afternoon, with rainfall generally under a tenth of an inch outside storms. Gusty winds could briefly top 28 mph even away from the lakes.
A few downpours may reduce visibility on I-26 and I-20.
Tonight turns partly cloudy with a low near 57 degrees and a lingering 40% chance of showers after sunset. Saturday stays active. Showers and thunderstorms are likely again, mainly morning through early afternoon, with highs near 69 degrees.
By Sunday, cooler air filters in. Highs drop to around 60 degrees with a 30% chance of rain before early afternoon. Sunday night clears out with lows near 30 degrees, a sharp reminder that February can still deliver a chill.
Monday brings sunshine and a high near 48 degrees, followed by a crisp low near 26 Monday night. While no snow is expected here, colder mornings could create patchy frost on bridges.
Looking ahead, midweek temperatures rebound into the low 60s. The 6–10 day outlook signals above-normal warmth building across the Southeast, hinting at early spring vibes by late next week.
Five-Day Outlook for Columbia:
- Saturday: Showers likely, high 69.
- Sunday: Slight rain chance, high 60.
- Monday: Sunny, high 48.
- Tuesday: Sunny, high 51.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, high 61.
