Editing Columbia, South Carolina (section)

=== Climate ===
Columbia has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''), with relatively cool to mild winters and hot and humid summers. The area averages 55 nights below freezing and is subject to temporary [[Cold wave|cold spells]] during the winter, but extended cold or days where the temperature fails to rise above freezing are both rare.<ref name = "NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)"/> These cold snaps usually result from atmospheric [[Trough (meteorology)|troughs]] that bring in cold air from Canada across the Eastern part of the country. The [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]] places Columbia in the 8a [[Hardiness zone|Hardiness Zone]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/south-carolina-planting-zones.htm|title=South Carolina Planting Zones – USDA Map Of South Carolina Growing Zones|website=Gardening Know How|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528221741/https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/south-carolina-planting-zones.htm|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

With an annual average of 5 days with {{convert|100|°F|0}}+ and 72 days with {{convert|90|°F|0}}+ temperatures,<ref name="NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)" /> the city's current promotional slogan describes Columbia as "Famously Hot".<ref>{{cite web|title=Columbia SC Official Website |url=http://www.columbiacvb.com|access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013174629/http://www.columbiacvb.com/|archive-date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> In the summer months, Columbia usually has the greatest high temperature in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/mean90.html |title=Number of Days with Max Temperatures Equal to or Above 90°F for Selected Cities in the Southeast |website=Southeast Regional Climate Center|access-date=2019-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528221749/http://sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/mean90.html|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> One reason for this is its low [[elevation]] in comparison to other cities at similar latitudes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Does Elevation Affect Temperature? |website=OnTheSnow |url=https://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/15157/does-elevation-affect-temperature |access-date=2019-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528221738/https://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/15157/does-elevation-affect-temperature|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> For example, [[Atlanta]] has a significantly higher elevation, which helps to moderate its summer temperatures. Secondly, the city lies in the heart of the [[Sandhills (Carolina)|Sandhills]] region. Since the region's soils are more sandy, they contain less water and can warm up more quickly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Soil temperature |url=https://horticulture.tekura.school.nz/soils/soils-2/ht1032-soils-2-study-plan/soil-temperature/ |website=Te Kura Horticulture |access-date=2019-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528221743/https://horticulture.tekura.school.nz/soils/soils-2/ht1032-soils-2-study-plan/soil-temperature/|archive-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> This explains why usually only the high temperatures and not the low temperatures are much different from across the state. Thirdly, because of its distance from the [[Atlantic Ocean]], it does not receive the same moderating effects of coastal cities like [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]. Lastly, the city experiences the [[urban heat island]] effect, making it significantly warmer than some surrounding towns and cities.

Precipitation, at {{convert|44.6|in|mm|sigfig=3}} annually, peaks in the summer months largely because of afternoon thunderstorms, and is the least during spring and fall.<ref name="NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)" /> Snowfall averages {{convert|1.5|in|cm|1}}, but is largely variable depending on the year.<ref name="NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)" /> Snow flurries usually do fall at least once during the winter season during its coldest periods. Like much of the southeastern U.S., the city is prone to [[Temperature inversion|inversions]], which trap ozone and other pollutants over the area.

Official extremes in temperature at the main weather station have ranged from {{convert|109|°F|0}} on [[Summer 2012 North American heat wave|June 29 and 30, 2012]] down to {{convert|−2|°F|0}}, set on [[Great Blizzard of 1899|February 14, 1899]]. Only one other sub-zero temperature has been recorded in Columbia: {{convert|−1|°F|0}} on [[January 1985 Arctic outbreak|January 21, 1985]]. A weather station at the [[University of South Carolina]] campus measured a reading of {{convert|113|°F|0}} on June 29, 2012, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in South Carolina.<ref name = "NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2012/13/supplemental/page-9/|title=Annual 2012 National Climate Report – 2012 By The Numbers|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823195431/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2012/13/supplemental/page-9/|archive-date=August 23, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Columbia, South Carolina ([[Columbia Metropolitan Airport|Columbia Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1887–present{{efn|Official records for Columbia were kept at downtown from June 1887 to December 1947, and at Columbia Airport since January 1948. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org Threadex]}}
|collapsed =  
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 93
|Apr record high F = 96
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 113
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 101
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 83
|year record high F = 113
|Jan avg record high F = 74.5
|Feb avg record high F = 78.0
|Mar avg record high F = 84.1
|Apr avg record high F = 89.0
|May avg record high F = 94.4
|Jun avg record high F = 98.3
|Jul avg record high F = 100.1
|Aug avg record high F = 99.1
|Sep avg record high F = 95.2
|Oct avg record high F = 88.6
|Nov avg record high F = 80.9
|Dec avg record high F = 75.8
|year avg record high F = 101.5
|Jan high F = 56.8
|Feb high F = 60.8
|Mar high F = 68.3
|Apr high F = 76.7
|May high F = 83.8
|Jun high F = 89.7
|Jul high F = 92.7
|Aug high F = 90.8
|Sep high F = 85.7
|Oct high F = 76.5
|Nov high F = 66.4
|Dec high F = 58.9
|year high F = 75.6
|Jan mean F = 45.7
|Feb mean F = 49.1
|Mar mean F = 55.9
|Apr mean F = 64.1
|May mean F = 72.2
|Jun mean F = 79.1
|Jul mean F = 82.4
|Aug mean F = 81.0
|Sep mean F = 75.5
|Oct mean F = 64.6
|Nov mean F = 54.0
|Dec mean F = 47.7
|year mean F = 64.3
|Jan low F = 34.6
|Feb low F = 37.3
|Mar low F = 43.6
|Apr low F = 51.5
|May low F = 60.5
|Jun low F = 68.6
|Jul low F = 72.0
|Aug low F = 71.2
|Sep low F = 65.3
|Oct low F = 52.7
|Nov low F = 41.6
|Dec low F = 36.5
|year low F = 53.0
|Jan avg record low F = 18.3
|Feb avg record low F = 22.2
|Mar avg record low F = 26.4
|Apr avg record low F = 34.8
|May avg record low F = 46.2
|Jun avg record low F = 58.9
|Jul avg record low F = 65.4
|Aug avg record low F = 62.5
|Sep avg record low F = 51.7
|Oct avg record low F = 35.8
|Nov avg record low F = 26.3
|Dec avg record low F = 21.7
|year avg record low F = 16.7
|Jan record low F = −1
|Feb record low F = −2
|Mar record low F = 4
|Apr record low F = 26
|May record low F = 34
|Jun record low F = 44
|Jul record low F = 54
|Aug record low F = 53
|Sep record low F = 40
|Oct record low F = 23
|Nov record low F = 12
|Dec record low F = 4
|year record low F = -2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.49
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.39
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.57
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.83
|May precipitation inch = 3.49
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.97
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.35
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.65
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.91
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.13
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.76
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.70
|year precipitation inch = 45.24
|Jan snow inch = 0.6
|Feb snow inch = 0.4
|Mar snow inch = 0.1
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.1
|year snow inch = 1.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.6
|Feb precipitation days = 8.9
|Mar precipitation days = 8.9
|Apr precipitation days = 8.1
|May precipitation days = 8.5
|Jun precipitation days = 11.0
|Jul precipitation days = 11.8
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 8.0
|Oct precipitation days = 6.9
|Nov precipitation days = 7.3
|Dec precipitation days = 9.2
|year precipitation days = 108.6
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.4
|Feb snow days = 0.2
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1
|year snow days = 0.8
|Jan humidity = 69.2
|Feb humidity = 65.8
|Mar humidity = 64.6
|Apr humidity = 62.1
|May humidity = 68.2
|Jun humidity = 70.8
|Jul humidity = 73.4
|Aug humidity = 76.5
|Sep humidity = 75.9
|Oct humidity = 73.0
|Nov humidity = 71.6
|Dec humidity = 70.7
|year humidity = 70.2
|Jan sun = 172.7
|Feb sun = 180.7
|Mar sun = 237.3
|Apr sun = 269.6
|May sun = 292.9
|Jun sun = 280.0
|Jul sun = 286.0
|Aug sun = 263.3
|Sep sun = 239.8
|Oct sun = 235.0
|Nov sun = 193.8
|Dec sun = 175.0
|Jan percentsun = 55
|Feb percentsun = 59 
|Mar percentsun = 64
|Apr percentsun = 69 
|May percentsun = 68
|Jun percentsun = 65
|Jul percentsun = 65
|Aug percentsun = 63
|Sep percentsun = 64 
|Oct percentsun = 67 
|Nov percentsun = 62
|Dec percentsun = 57
|year percentsun = 64
|source 1 = [[NOAA]] (relative humidity and sun 1961−1990)<ref name="NWS Columbia, SC (CAE)">{{cite web
|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=cae
|title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = May 14, 2021
|archive-date = July 2, 2017
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170702164710/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=cae
|url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name = "NCDC TXT KCAE">
{{cite web 
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013883&format=pdf
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
|title = Station: Columbia, SC
|work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
|access-date = May 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name= "WMO 1961–90 KCAE">
{{cite web
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72310.TXT 
|title = WMO Climate Normals for Columbia/Metro ARPT SC 1961&ndash;1990
|access-date = September 4, 2016
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
}}