Columbia, South Carolina – A significant winter warm-up is expected across central South Carolina this week, with temperatures climbing well above seasonal averages ahead of Christmas.
According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, upper-level ridging will take hold across the central and eastern United States, driving a period of unseasonably warm weather. Forecast confidence is high that several days will reach the upper 60s to low 70s, particularly from midweek through the Christmas holiday.
Probability forecasts show a high likelihood of temperatures exceeding 70 degrees in cities including Columbia, Orangeburg, Augusta, Sumter, and Newberry between Wednesday and Friday. In Columbia, the chance of reaching 70 degrees peaks near 90 percent on Christmas Day.
Forecasters noted that even typically cooler locations such as Lancaster and Cheraw show elevated probabilities for 70-degree highs later in the week. These temperatures are well above late-December normals, which usually sit in the lower to mid-50s.
The National Weather Service emphasized that the warm pattern appears persistent through the end of the week, with gradually decreasing probabilities of 70-degree temperatures by next weekend.
No significant cold air intrusions are expected during this period, limiting the potential for winter weather impacts. While clouds may increase at times, conditions are expected to remain generally dry.
For holiday travelers, outdoor plans, and commuters, the warm stretch will feel more like early spring than winter, offering favorable conditions across much of the Midlands and surrounding areas.
