Columbia - Extreme Daily Precipitation for Each Year

This page lists the biggest rainstorms or snowstorms of the year in Columbia, South Carolina along with the date they occurred. The information answers questions like: When was the last time more than five inches of precipitation landed on Columbia in a single day? What was the rainiest day of 2019?

The list gives the highest daily precipitation for each year in Columbia and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means the same amount of moisture also fell on at least one other day earlier that year.

These records go back to 1930. During that time the heaviest downpour measured for a single day was 6.87 inches (174.5 millimetres) on October 4, 2015.

Since 1948 the precipitation extremes were observed at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Before then, the weather station was in downtown Columbia.

Most precipitation in one day for recent years in Columbia, SC
Inches Date Milli­metres
2.41 January 22, 2023   61.2
2.64 April 05, 2022   67.1
5.13 August 22, 2021   130.3
3.83 July 29, 2020   97.3
4.16 December 13, 2019 105.7
4.45 October 11, 2018 113.0
3.38 September 11, 2017 85.9
3.88 September 02, 2016 98.6
6.87 October 04, 2015 174.5
3.61 August 09, 2014 91.7
4.38 August 16, 2013 111.3
2.88 July 09, 2012 73.2
2.17 February 04, 2011 55.1
2.01 July 31, 2010 51.1
Highest daily precipitation recorded at Columbia, SC each year
Inches Date Milli­metres
3.77 July 22, 2009 95.8
1.96 August 25, 2008 49.8
2.05 December 15, 2007 52.1
2.46 June 14, 2006 62.5
2.52 July 19, 2005 64.0
2.98 June 21, 2004 75.7
3.16 June 18, 2003 80.3
4.47 May 11, 2002 113.5
2.85 May 12, 2001 72.4
2.27 January 24, 2000 57.7
2.39 June 25, 1999 60.7
5.17 September 03, 1998 131.3
3.43 July 23, 1997 87.1
2.90 March 07, 1996 73.7
4.72 August 26, 1995 119.9
4.84 June 27, 1994 122.9
2.52 October 30, 1993 64.0
2.81 August 13, 1992 71.4
4.20 May 05, 1991 106.7
3.83 October 10, 1990 97.3
2.42 March 23, 1989 61.5
3.23 August 28, 1988 82.0
2.58 August 06, 1987 65.5
3.81 August 19, 1986 96.8
2.68 February 05, 1985 68.1
2.16 June 28, 1984 54.9
2.95 March 17, 1983 74.9
2.47 July 14, 1982 62.7
2.50 December 31, 1981 63.5
2.77 September 28, 1980 70.4
3.95 September 04, 1979 100.3
2.56 January 25, 1978 65.0
2.75 October 25, 1977 69.9
3.58 June 16, 1976 90.9
3.02 July 14, 1975 76.7
2.04 January 01, 1974 51.8
5.40 June 15, 1973 137.2
2.32 June 20, 1972 58.9
3.59 August 16, 1971 91.2
3.18 December 16, 1970 80.8
2.60 March 18, 1969 66.0
2.79 January 10, 1968 70.9
4.68 May 22, 1967 118.9
2.14 January 15, 1966 54.4
5.06 September 02, 1965 128.5
4.20 August 29, 1964 106.7
2.28 April 06, 1963 57.9
3.69 February 22, 1962 93.7
3.15 August 03, 1961 80.0
3.24 March 30, 1960 82.3
5.79 July 09, 1959 147.1
2.50 January 24, 1958 63.5
2.34 September 06, 1957 59.4
3.03 April 11, 1956 77.0
1.98 August 23, 1955 50.3
2.48 August 03, 1954 63.0
4.23 September 26, 1953 107.4
1.96 August 07, 1952 49.8
1.90 July 16, 1951 48.3
3.28 May 28, 1950 83.3
3.92 August 17, 1949 99.6
2.19 October 04, 1948 55.6
2.50 August 18, 1947 63.5
3.13 October 08, 1946 79.5
2.77 September 17, 1945 70.4
2.89 July 31, 1944 73.4
1.84 August 12, 1943 46.7
3.41 July 03, 1942 86.6
2.11 August 04, 1941 53.6
1.41 August 12, 1940 35.8
4.62 September 27, 1939 117.3
2.38 July 24, 1938 60.5
2.57 July 25, 1937 65.3
2.58 August 29, 1936 65.5
3.35 August 19, 1935 85.1
2.18 October 10, 1934 55.4
2.81 May 30, 1933 71.4
3.71 August 07, 1932 94.2
1.91 July 20, 1931 48.5
1.72 July 18, 1930 43.7
Reference

Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 

Columbia - Extremes
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