COLUMBIA, S.C. — High pressure will continue to control the weather, with dry conditions expected through Christmas Eve. Moisture increases over the 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 sunny, dry, and warm for this time of the year. Highs will be in the middle 60s. A few places may even reach the upper 60s. Our average high this time of the year is closer to the middle to upper 50s. Even though it will be warm on 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 to near 40 tonight and into Sunday morning. That is about typical for this time of year in December.
Clouds will 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 to upper 60s.
Christmas Day should start dry, but the chances of rain will ramp up in the afternoon. 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. Currently, 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 remain warm, but highs will drop closer to normal by Thursday and Friday.
