109 degrees in the shade

It’s official: Friday was the hottest day in Columbia — ever.

Columbia hit an all-time high of 109 at 4:52 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record was 107 degrees.

Friday’s heat passed the June 29 daily record of 103 degrees by 1 p.m. It was 107 by 2 p.m., 108 shortly after 3 p.m. and finally started cooling after hitting 109.

Since records started being kept in 1887, the official temperature for Columbia has hit 107 six times before Friday, most recently on Aug. 10, 2007.

The other 107-degree days were Aug. 21, 1983; June 27, 1954; and July 23, 24 and 29 during an incredible heat wave in 1952, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. National Weather Service gauges at USC have hit 109 several times, but that’s not the official site for Columbia records.

It won’t be much cooler during the weekend.

The National Weather Service forecast is for 105 on Saturday, but online forecast outlet Weather Underground forecasts 108.

Regardless, it’ll probably feel hotter on Saturday than on Friday. The air was remarkably dry Friday, leading to heat index values lower than the actual temperature. With more humidity Saturday, the heat index in Columbia is expected to top 110.

While Columbia had the hottest official temperature in the region, everyone was blazing. All-time daily records were set in Augusta (106), Florence (105), Greenville-Spartanburg (105) and Charlotte (104). Charlotte also tied its all-time high.

This story was originally published June 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "109 degrees in the shade."