Columbia, South Carolina – Heavy rain and dangerous thunderstorms are set to pound Columbia and much of central South Carolina through Wednesday night, bringing a renewed risk of street flooding, power outages, and difficult travel for the midweek commute. Some of the storms may turn severe, producing heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and damaging wind gusts.
According to the National Weather Service, showers and thunderstorms will ramp up Tuesday morning with the most intense rainfall possible Tuesday evening into Wednesday. Rainfall totals could reach up to 2 inches or more in some neighborhoods, especially during repeated rounds of storms. Motorists should avoid low-lying roads and be alert for sudden water pooling during the morning and afternoon rush hours, especially along I-20, I-26, and local city streets in Richland and Lexington counties.
The threat doesn’t end Wednesday—storms and showers are likely to persist through Thursday, keeping outdoor plans on hold. Power crews and first responders across the region are bracing for scattered outages or tree damage if stronger storms hit. Residents should keep mobile devices charged and avoid unnecessary travel when storms approach.
Conditions may improve by Friday as rain chances gradually decrease and temperatures climb back to the upper 80s. Still, a few stray showers may linger into the weekend. Stay tuned for further updates, as more advisories are possible if rainfall intensifies or storm tracks shift.
Five Day Forecast for Columbia, SC:
- Tuesday: Heavy rain and thunderstorms, high near 82°F.
- Wednesday: Thunderstorms likely, locally heavy rain. High 81°F.
- Thursday: Showers, occasional storms, high 85°F.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, lingering showers, high 83°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, slight chance of showers, high 84°F.
