Columbia, SC – South Carolina will stay chilly through mid-December, as Arctic air continues to spill south from Canada — but this time, it comes without the wet weather. According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook, issued December 1, below-normal temperatures are expected statewide from December 9 through December 15, with below-normal precipitation signaling a cold but dry week.
Forecasters say highs will range from the upper 40s to mid-50s, while overnight lows drop into the upper 20s and 30s across much of the state. Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston can expect sunny but brisk afternoons followed by cold, frosty mornings.
NOAA meteorologists note that the pattern keeping the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic cold will extend into the Southeast but without much moisture. That means clear skies, low humidity, and little to no rainfall are likely through midweek.
In contrast, the West Coast and southern Plains will see above-average warmth and dry conditions, highlighting the nation’s sharp temperature divide. For South Carolina, though, the Arctic influence will make for a crisp, wintry feel heading into mid-December.
A gradual moderation in temperatures may arrive closer to the holidays, but another cold shot could quickly follow before month’s end.
