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South Carolina Weather: Columbia Holiday Travel Rain or Snow After 80-Degree Warmup?
COLUMBIA, South Carolina – South Carolina is heading into November with temperatures approaching 80 degrees around Columbia, but NOAA's longer range outlook suggests wetter than normal conditions coul
By Jenna Hartley · 2026-10-31T08:07:17.091Z
COLUMBIA, South Carolina – South Carolina is heading into November with temperatures approaching 80 degrees around Columbia, but NOAA's longer range outlook suggests wetter than normal conditions could return closer to Thanksgiving, raising early questions about holiday travel, rain and the possibility of winter weather later in the month.
Columbia could reach 79 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday before showers and thunderstorms become more likely. Farther ahead, federal outlooks favor above normal temperatures during the first half of November, while precipitation probabilities shift as Thanksgiving approaches.
Columbia Could Reach 80 Degrees Before Midweek Thunderstorms According to the National Weather Service, Columbia will see mostly cloudy skies Saturday, Oct. 31, with a high near 72 degrees.
Sunday brings partly sunny conditions and a high near 71, followed by 75 Monday and 79 Tuesday.
Wednesday's high is expected near 79 degrees, with a 60% chance of precipitation. Thunderstorms are possible early, followed by additional shower and thunderstorm chances during the day. Showers become likely after 2 p.m.
Rain chances remain at 60% Wednesday night before decreasing to 50% Thursday and 40% Thursday night.
Thursday could bring another warm afternoon, with temperatures reaching approximately 80 degrees.
South Carolina residents will also turn clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, bringing earlier sunsets and additional darkness during evening travel.
NOAA November Outlook Shows Warmth and Changing Rain Patterns NOAA's Climate Prediction Center outlooks issued Oct. 30 favor above normal temperatures across South Carolina during Nov. 5 9 and Nov. 7 13.
The Nov. 14 27 temperature outlook shows less of a clear signal across South Carolina, with much of the state falling within an area where above and below normal temperatures have equal chances.
Precipitation trends change throughout the month.
During Nov. 5 9, above normal precipitation is favored across parts of South Carolina, including the Columbia area.
By Nov. 7 13, below normal precipitation becomes favored across portions of the state, including central South Carolina.
The Nov. 14 27 outlook shifts back toward above normal precipitation across South Carolina, with probabilities generally around 40 50% in portions of the state.
That period includes Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 26, and the surrounding holiday travel window.
Thanksgiving Holiday Travel: Could South Carolina See Rain or Snow? The wetter late November outlook raises an early question for Thanksgiving travelers: Could South Carolina experience rain, snow or a combination of both?
NOAA's extended outlook does not identify a specific Thanksgiving storm, snowfall accumulation or travel disruption.
Although snow is possible in South Carolina during colder parts of the year, the available outlook provides no specific indication of snowfall in Columbia during Thanksgiving week.
The precipitation outlook also cannot determine whether rain will fall on Thanksgiving Day itself.
For now, the more immediate weather change arrives Wednesday, when shower and thunderstorm chances increase to 60%.
Residents should expect several mild afternoons, including temperatures near 80 degrees by midweek, before unsettled conditions return. Thanksgiving weather details will become clearer as shorter range forecasts become available.
Columbia Five Day Weather Forecast Sunday, Nov. 1: Partly sunny, high near 71°F. Mostly cloudy overnight, low around 54°F. Monday, Nov. 2: Mostly cloudy, high near 75°F. Mostly cloudy overnight, low around 55°F. Tuesday, Nov. 3: Partly sunny, high near 79°F. Mostly cloudy overnight, low around 60°F. Wednesday, Nov. 4: Mostly cloudy, high near 79°F, with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Showers likely overnight, low around 62°F, with a 60% precipitation chance. Thursday, Nov. 5: Mostly cloudy, high near 80°F, with a 50% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy overnight, low around 59°F, with a 40% chance of showers.