Did you know? 2024 was the hottest year on record so far — and the first year to have an average global temperature of more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels. See what the rest of the year (and the beginning of 2025) has in store.

Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for the rest of December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.

Reminder: The first day of winter is on Saturday, Dec. 21.

It looks like the next three month's temperatures will be "likely above" normal. | Photo from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.

🌡️ Temperature

Think warm. This winter, Cola has a 50-60% chance of temperatures being likely above normal — and for Cola that means 34 to 36 degrees for the lows, and 55 to 59.5 degrees for the highs.

🌨️ Precipitation

Expect slightly less precipitation. Columbia has a 40-50% chance of "leaning below" amounts of rainfall this winter. Between December and February, the Soda City sees ~4 inches of rainfall.

☀️ Drought

Drought development teeters on "no drought" and "drought development likely" this season.

December

Winter begins next week, and this month's weather has been a bit all over the place, offering a wide range of temperatures. You’ll likely see average high temperatures in the high-60°s while low temperatures rest somewhere in the high 30°s.

January

Typically in Columbia, January’s temperatures stay in the 50°s and can fall into the 40°s-30°s. Though January is usually the coldest month of the year, temperatures rarely fall into the 20°s. This January you’ll likely see more of the same with the high of January falling around 56° and the low around 36.°

Did you know — for the entire month of January, the length of the day increases by 35 minutes, increasing around one minute, and 11 seconds per day?

February

February’s temperatures, both highs and lows, tend to creep up between 5-7° over the course of the month, so expect temperatures around the low to mid-60°s. Mid-60°s make for a perfect stroll along one of our riverwalks while wearing a light jacket.

March

We hope you took our advice and didn’t put your sweaters away. March will be a chilly month for us too, with temperatures between 42° and 60°.