Columbia, South Carolina – A cold front moving into the Midlands will bring showers and isolated thunderstorms by early evening Saturday, with wet roads and reduced visibility likely to impact travel during peak hours.
According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, rain chances will increase rapidly after 6 p.m., with the highest coverage between 7 p.m. and midnight. Storms will remain scattered, but some could produce brief downpours and lightning across central South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area.
Cities including Columbia, Sumter, Aiken, and Orangeburg are expected to see rain probabilities climb to 60% to 70% tonight. Major routes such as Interstate 20, Interstate 26, and Interstate 77 could become slick, especially during heavier bursts of rain. While rainfall totals are expected to stay relatively light—generally around 0.10 to 0.50 inches—localized ponding on roads may still occur.
Residents should allow extra travel time this evening, use headlights in low visibility, and remain alert for sudden slowdowns. Outdoor plans may be briefly disrupted by lightning and passing showers.
Rain chances will decrease into Sunday, with additional updates expected if storm coverage increases or timing shifts.
