COLUMBIA, SC – The air feels damp and heavy this morning across central South Carolina, fog hanging low over fields and headlights cutting through the mist. The calm start won’t last long — rain and patchy fog are set to dominate the next 48 hours, bringing a taste of early December’s unsettled side.
The National Weather Service in Columbia expects a surge of moisture late tonight into Friday, with rain becoming widespread and steady through midday. Visibility could drop below a half mile at times during the morning commute, especially near I-26 and I-77. Some heavier showers may develop by afternoon, pushing totals between a quarter and three-quarters of an inch before tapering late Friday night.
Friday’s highs hover in the upper 40s, and combined with damp air and low clouds, it’ll feel much colder than the thermometer shows. Drivers should prepare for slick pavement and reduced visibility — particularly early Friday and again into Saturday morning as fog redevelops.
The weekend brings little relief: scattered rain chances continue Saturday and Sunday, keeping lawns soggy and skies gray. Sunday will feel milder near 52°F, but roads may stay wet into early Monday. Long-range models hint at a brief drying trend early next week before another cold push approaches the Southeast by mid-December.
Meteorologists are also watching the Dec. 11–17 window, when colder air may drop southward, introducing the first wintry hints of the season across the Carolinas — something to watch as holiday travel begins.
Five-Day Outlook (Columbia, SC)
- Friday: Rain and fog, high 48°F.
- Saturday: Cloudy, rain likely, high 51°F.
- Sunday: Chance of rain, high 52°F.
- Monday: Partly cloudy, high 49°F.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high 47°F.
