COLUMBIA, S.C. — Since 1970, our average temperature in Columbia has risen 2.9° according to our partners at Climate Central. While, this number is more than the national increase in temperature, it also doesn't tell us the full picture when looking at things in a somewhat smaller timescale.
Over the last 6 months, we have had some very large ups, and relatively small downs when it comes to our weather here in the Midlands. December was by far the "least normal" coming in at a whopping 7.1 degrees above normal. Since then, while we have seen some months running below average, the trend has been warmer weather here across the Midlands.
It took until today (April 26th) to reclaim the warmest day of the year from February where we had previously hit 85 degrees. While that isn't a "hot" temperature for this time of the year, it was well out of the normal for the month of February.
Looking towards the month of May, we look to see a change in our pattern that could bring about a much more "summerlike" pattern. With ridging expected in the south, we will likely see temperatures running above average during much of the month. As for rain chances, those are a bit harder to predict but as of right now, the Climate Prediction Center believes we will see higher than normal chances of rain during May.
