COLUMBIA, S.C. — High pressure will continue to control the weather, with dry conditions expected through Christmas Eve. Moisture increases this weekend, with the next chance of rain arriving on Christmas Day. The holiday weekend will be unseasonably mild, with highs in the middle 60s.
Today will be mainly cloudy, with high temperatures in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees. Partly cloudy skies are expected tonight; lows will drop into the middle to lower 30s.
Saturday will be mainly sunny, dry, and warm for this time of the year. Highs will be in the middle 60s. Our average high this time of the year is closer to the middle to upper 50s. Even though it will be warm Saturday, the record high of 80° set in 1970 will be safe.
Under mostly clear skies, temperatures will drop into the middle to upper 30s Saturday night and into Sunday morning. That is about typical for this time of year in December.
Clouds will start to return to the area on Christmas Eve as a storm system gets better developed over the Great Plains. No rain is forecast for Sunday. Temperatures will be warmer than normal, topping out in the middle 60s. Some areas may even reach the upper 60s on Sunday afternoon.
Christmas Day should start off dry, but as we go into the afternoon hours, the chances for rain will ramp up. Scattered showers are expected during the afternoon and evening hours. Highs on Christmas will be in the middle 60s.
Rain will linger Christmas night into Tuesday. More showers are forecast for the day after Christmas. As of now, showers will continue through at least the first part of the day on Tuesday. Highs will be in the middle 60s even with the clouds and rain in place.
The rain opportunities will decrease on Wednesday, and temperatures will be near normal. Highs on Wednesday and Thursday will be in the middle to upper 50s.
