Weather
Columbia Fall Begins With 80s, Then Cooler Air
Columbia, South Carolina – Fall begins Tuesday night, and a sharp temperature change will bring highs in the 70s and lower 80s to the region by late week.
By Owen Prescott · 2026-09-22T08:49:40.898Z
Columbia, South Carolina – Fall begins Tuesday night, and a sharp temperature change will bring highs in the 70s and lower 80s to the region by late week.
According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, the fall equinox occurs at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, marking the official start of astronomical fall. Before the cooler air arrives, Tuesday remains hot, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible during the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures around Columbia could reach 89 degrees Tuesday afternoon. The Weather Service's data shows a high around 80 Wednesday, followed by 77 Thursday and 77 Friday.
The transition will also reach communities across the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area. Augusta could climb to around 90 degrees Tuesday before highs fall to about 80 Wednesday and 78 Thursday. Aiken could go from roughly 90 Tuesday to 79 Wednesday and 78 Thursday.
Lexington is expected to follow a similar pattern, dropping from a Tuesday high near 89 to around 80 Wednesday. Orangeburg could reach about 90 Tuesday before cooling to the lower 80s Wednesday and upper 70s Thursday.
Rain and thunderstorm chances accompany the initial change, but the Weather Service expects cooler conditions to become the bigger story as the week progresses. Residents with outdoor plans should monitor conditions Tuesday afternoon and evening, particularly where thunderstorms develop.
Overnight temperatures will eventually fall into the 50s and 60s across the region by late week, providing a noticeably cooler start to the morning after recent heat.
The seasonal timing is fitting: Astronomical fall starts Tuesday night, and cooler air follows during its first several days. By late week, much of the region should experience daytime temperatures in the mid 70s to lower 80s and cooler nights