2018 January Climate Summary

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
156 PM EST Fri Feb 2 2018

...Public Information Statement...

...January 2018 Climate Summary...


...Record for Number of Consecutive Days with Low Temperatures
Below 20 degrees was set at the Columbia Metro Airport...
...Below Normal Temperatures for the Month...
...Bitterly Cold Temperatures for the first 8 days of the month...
...Below Normal Rainfall for the Month...
...Two Winter Weather Events with Snow for much of the area...
...Heavy Snowfall associated with both events impacted 
Lancaster...Calhoun...Chesterfield...Clarendon...Orangeburg and 
Sumter Counties. 
...Widespread Heavy Rainfall Event on the 27th-29th...
...Slight Improvement in Drought Conditions Across the Midlands
and CSRA...

January will be remembered for the unseasonably and brutally cold
temperatures that carried over from late December into the first
8 days of the month. High temperatures averaged in the mid 30s
to lower 40s with overnight lows in the middle teens to lower 20s.
On average, temperatures were 10 to 20 degrees below normal. 

The string of cold morning temperatures broke a record at the
Columbia Metro Airport. The record for number of consecutive days
with low temperatures below 20 degrees was set on between January
2nd through January 7th. The low temperatures each day were 18,
19, 19, 14, 15 and 16 degrees, respectively. 

Here is a list of the previous records of 5 consecutive days of
low temperatures below 20 degrees:

1. Jan. 3rd - 7th, 2010
2. Jan. 9th - 13th, 1981
3. Jan. 7th - 11th, 1970
4. Jan. 1st - 5th, 1928
5. Dec. 30th Jan. 3rd, 1899/1900

This extremely cold snap was then followed by an unseasonably warm
period during the second week of January when temperatures
averaged 10 to 25 degrees above normal. Two significant winter
weather events occurred, the first on the 3rd and the second
on the 17th. These events produced up to 7 inches of snow across
portions of the Midlands. After that, a heavy rainfall event brought
the month to a close, helping to reduce the rainfall deficit and 
ease drought conditions across central South Carolina and 
east-central Georgia. 


...Augusta Average Temperatures... 

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for
January was 43.1 degrees or 2.3 degrees below the normal of 45.4
degrees. 

...Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for January was
43.0 degrees or 1.8 degrees below the normal of 44.8 degrees.

...Orangeburg Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at the Orangeburg County Airport for
January was 42.7 degrees or 3.2 degrees below the normal of 45.9
degrees. 


...Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 2.09 inches of rainfall during 
January. Normal is 3.91 inches. 

...Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 2.42 inches of rainfall during 
January. Normal is 3.58 inches 


Here are some of the highest monthly rainfall CoCoRaHS Reports 
for January:

SC-LN-10 Indian Land 4.7 S........4.44 inches
SC-LN-15 Lancaster 3.6 NNW........4.32 inches
SC-MC-5  McCormick 2.3 W..........4.28 inches
SC-LN-4  Lancaster 2.0 NNW........4.21 inches
SC-LN-8  Lancaster 0.4 WSW........3.98 inches
SC-CF-5  Pageland 9.0 WNW.........3.90 inches
SC-LX-69 Lexington 3.0 WSW........3.88 inches

GA-CU-9  Appling 2.0 SE...........3.21 inches
GA-MD-5  Thomson 2.6 S............3.06 inches
GA-CU-6  Martinez 0.9 NW..........2.91 inches
GA-CU-3  Evans 2.1 NNW............2.86 inches
GA-BK-9  South Augusta 4.1 S......2.14 inches


Here are some of the highest/lowest NWS Coop Observer 
monthly rainfall reports for January:

MCCS1 McCormick...................4.09 inches
WNBS1 Winnsboro...................3.92 inches
LIMS1 Little Mountain.............3.58 inches
HHLS1 Holly Hill..................3.56 inches
LUGS1 Lugoff 2 NE.................3.53 inches


Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during January:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......37 mph on the 23rd
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........35 mph on the 23rd
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...34 mph on the 13th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............31 mph on the 12th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............30 mph on the 23rd


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during January:

Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......36 mph on the 13th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...34 mph on the 13th
Lake Murray Dam (RCWINDS).............34 mph on the 13th
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............32 mph on the 13th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............31 mph on the 23rd


Lake Murray Water Temperatures at The Towers:

Warmest...54.9 degrees on January 1st
Coolest...48.4 degrees on January 22nd 


TEMPERATURE RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH OF 
December:

Augusta...

None

COLUMBIA... 

None


Events for January 2018...

January 2nd...
Cold Arctic high pressure settled in across the Carolinas providing 
excellent radiational cooling conditions with an extremely cold and 
dry airmass. This produced morning low temperatures in the single 
digits to teens across the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area. 

Here are some of the coldest morning low temperatures:

Cedar Creek (Public Report)..........4 degrees
Cedar Creek (NWS Coop)...............5 degrees
Silverstreet 6 WNW (CoCoRaHS)........5 degrees
Landfill (RCWINDS)...................5 degrees
Springhill HS (RCWINDS)..............6 degrees
Lancaster County Airport (AWOS)......7 degrees
Saluda 2 ESE (AWS)...................7 degrees
Dutch Fork HS (RCWINDS)..............7 degrees
Cheraw (NWS Coop)....................8 degrees
Newberry WKDK (NWS Coop).............8 degrees
Newberry Sheriff Dept (RCWINDS)......8 degrees
Crossroads FS (RCWINDS)..............8 degrees


January 3rd...
An area of low pressure developed along the east coast of Florida 
on the morning of the 3rd. This system rapidly developed and 
moved northeast along the South Carolina coast during the day. 
By Thursday morning this system was along the Virgina capes and 
producing blizzard conditions across the northern Outer Banks and 
coastal Virginia. 

The system produced a swath of snow from the panhandle of Florida
northeast across Georgia and into the Carolinas. Some of the 
heaviest snow fell along the I-95 corridor in South Carolina. 

Here are some of the highest snowfall totals recorded:

1 SSW Sumter (Sumter County).............7.0 inches
Sumter (Sumter County)...................6.1 inches
7 NNW Oswego (Lee County)................6.0 inches
Cameron (Calhoun County).................5.8 inches
2 WNW Dalzell (Sumter County)............5.5 inches
Orangeburg (Orangeburg County)...........5.0 inches
Bishopville (Lee County).................5.0 inches
6 ESE Wilkinson Heights (Orangeburg Co.).5.0 inches
Ehrhardt (Bamberg County)................4.5 inches
1 S Millwood (Sumter County).............4.5 inches
2 ESE Oakland (Sumter County)............4.3 inches
Holly Hill (Orangeburg County)...........4.2 inches
4 SW Branchville (Bamberg County)........4.0 inches
2 NW Cheraw (Chesterfield County)........4.0 inches
1 NE Manning (Clarendon County)..........3.0 inches
Bowman (Orangeburg County)...............3.0 inches
3 ENE St. Matthews (Calhoun County)......2.3 inches
Olar (Bamberg County)....................2.0 inches
Cope (Orangeburg County).................1.9 inches


January 5th...
Bitterly cold air and breezy conditions occurred over the Midlands
and CSRA behind the Nor'easter that moved up the east coast. The 
combination of temperatures and winds created wind chill values
from zero to ten degrees. 

Here are some of the coldest wind chill values recorded:

Cheraw Municipal Airport (AWOS)..........0 degrees
Lancaster County Airport (AWOS)..........4 degrees
Aiken Municipal Airport (AWOS)...........4 degrees
Newberry County Airport (AWOS)...........5 degrees
6 E Jefferson (RAWS).....................5 degrees
Winnsboro (AWOS).........................6 degrees
Columbia Metro Airport (ASOS)............6 degrees
Cedar Creek (NWS Coop)...................7 degrees
McEntire JNG (ASOS)......................7 degrees
Shaw AFB (ASOS)..........................7 degrees


January 17th...
An are of low pressure across the lower Mississippi valley moved 
northward along an Arctic cold front. This produced a mixture 
of precipitation across the western and northern Midlands along 
with the northern CSRA that changed to snow. Snowfall amounts 
ranged from just a Trace up to 3.5 inches across Lancaster 
County. 

Here are some of the highest snowfall totals recorded:

20 NNW Lancaster (Public)................3.5 inches
11 N Lancaster (Emergency Manager).......3.3 inches
8 NE Elgin (Fire Department/Rescue)......2.0 inches
9 WNW Pageland (CoCoRaHS)................1.5 inches
11 N Edgefield (Public)..................1.0 inches
Lincolnton (Law Enforcement).............1.0 inches
5 W Thomson (Public).....................0.8 inches
McCormick (NWS Coop).....................0.5 inches
6 WNW Silverstreet (CoCoRaHS)............0.5 inches
Saluda (NWS Coop)........................0.5 inches
1 SSE Graniteville (CoCoRaHS)............0.2 inches
9 N Harlem (Law Enforcement).............0.1 inches


January 23rd...
Strong area of low pressure moved across the Midwest and
Great Lakes. This system pushed a strong cold front across
the Midlands and CSRA. The strong pressure gradient 
produced windy conditions across the area. 

Here are some of the highest wind gusts recorded:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB/ASOS).....37 mph
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE/ASOS)........35 mph
Pineview-Garners Ferry (RCWINDS).........35 mph
Broad River-St. Andrews (RCWINDS)........35 mph
Williams Brice Stadium (RCWINDS).........34 mph
Cheraw Municipal Airport (CQW/AWOS)......33 mph
Headquarters (RCWINDS)...................33 mph
Elders Pond (RCWINDS)....................33 mph
Winnsboro (FDW/AWOS).....................32 mph
Lake Murray Towers (IRMS1/USGS)..........31 mph


January 27th through 29th...
An area of low pressure along the northern Gulf of America 
moved along a slow moving cold front that pushed across 
Carolinas and Georgia. This system produced widespread 
heavy rainfall with amounts that ranged from 1 to 3 inches.
This event helped to slightly alleviate the drought 
conditions across central South Carolina and east-central
Georgia. 

Here are some of the highest rainfall amounts recorded:

Ridge Spring (CoCoRaHS)............2.42 inches
4 N Mount Carmel (USGS)............2.42 inches
5 NE Prosperity (CoCoRaHS).........2.40 inches
2 W McCormick (CoCoRaHS)...........2.30 inches
8 S Manning (CoCoRaHS).............2.26 inches
Saluda (USGS)......................2.24 inches
Newberry Sheriff Dept. (RCWINDS)...2.21 inches
1 W Irmo (CoCoRaHS)................2.20 inches
Irmo (AWS).........................2.20 inches
Newberry WKDK (NWS Coop)...........2.19 inches




YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2015/2016/2017 MONTHLY AVERAGE 
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE 
JAN 2016  55.1/-0.9      33.6/-0.1      44.3      44.8    -0.5  
FEB       60.1/-0.2      37.9/+1.1      49.0      48.5    +0.5 
MAR       75.0/+6.8      49.8/+6.8      62.4      55.6    +6.8
APR       78.1/+1.8      53.6/+3.2      65.8      63.4    +2.4 
MAY       83.4/-0.4      61.9/+2.4      72.7      71.7    +1.0
JUN       94.2/+4.2      71.7/+3.5      83.0      79.1    +3.9
JUL       99.2/+6.5      75.2/+3.6      87.2      82.2    +5.0
AUG       93.8/+3.1      74.8/+3.8      84.3      80.8    +3.5 
SEP       89.2/+4.0      69.6/+5.4      79.4      74.7    +4.7 
OCT       80.5/+4.4      56.0/+3.9      68.3      64.1    +4.2
NOV       70.6/+3.3      41.8/-0.5      56.2      54.8    +1.4
DEC       59.6/+1.4      39.9/+4.6      49.7      46.7    +3.0

JAN 2017  64.5/+8.5      43.0/+9.3      53.7      44.8    +8.9
FEB       71.4/+11.1     43.1/+6.3      57.2      48.5    +8.7  
MAR       70.9/+2.7      44.1/+1.1      57.5      55.6    +1.9
APR       81.0/+4.7      57.7/+7.3      69.4      63.4    +6.0  
MAY       85.2/+1.4      61.9/+2.4      73.6      71.7    +1.9 
JUN       89.3/-0.7      70.1/+1.9      79.7      79.1    +0.6
JUL       93.7/+1.0      73.5/+1.9      83.6      82.2    +1.4
AUG       91.4/+0.7      73.2/+2.2      82.3      80.8    +1.5
SEP       88.6/+3.4      65.6/+1.4      77.1      74.7    +2.4
OCT       80.3/+4.2      55.8/+3.7      68.0      64.1    +3.9  
NOV       70.1/+1.0      40.9/-0.5      55.5      55.2    +0.3 
DEC       59.8/+1.6      39.4/+4.1      49.6      46.7    +2.9 

JAN 2018  55.5/-0.5      30.5/-3.2      43.0      44.8    -1.8

AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2015/2016/2017 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES 
AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE 
JAN 2016  55.3/-2.6      33.1/+0.3     44.2       45.4    -1.2 
FEB       61.7/-0.6      37.9/+2.0     49.8       49.0    +0.7
MAR       74.4/+4.5      47.1/+5.1     60.8       55.9    +4.9 
APR       77.5/+0.2      50.1/+2.0     63.8       62.7    +1.2    
MAY       83.2/-1.8      58.2/+0.9     70.7       71.1    -0.4
JUN       92.2/+1.2      68.8/+2.6     80.5       78.6    +1.9
JUL       97.5/+4.1      71.7/+1.9     84.6       81.6    +3.0 
AUG       94.2/+2.4      72.1/+2.8     83.1       80.2    +2.6
SEP       88.9/+2.2      66.0/+3.4     77.4       74.6    +2.8 
OCT       82.5/+4.8      53.8/+2.8     68.2       64.4    +3.8 
NOV       73.4/+4.3      41.2/-0.2     57.3       55.2    +2.1 
DEC       62.4/+2.4      41.8/+7.3     52.4       47.2    +5.2 

JAN 2017  67.5/+9.6      43.5/+10.7    55.5       45.4   +10.1  
FEB       73.2/+10.9     43.4/+7.5     58.3       49.1    +9.2
MAR       73.7/+3.8      43.8/+1.8     58.8       55.9    +2.9
APR       83.2/+5.9      55.4/+7.3     69.3       62.7    +6.6  
MAY       87.1/+2.1      61.1/+3.8     74.1       71.1    +3.0
JUN       90.8/-0.2      69.4/+3.2     80.1       78.6    +1.5       
JUL       94.3/+0.9      72.9/+3.1     83.6       81.6    +2.0
AUG       91.7/-0.1      72.8/+3.5     82.3       80.5    +1.8
SEP       87.4/+2.7      64.0/+1.4     76.7       74.6    +2.1
OCT       82.4/+4.7      54.7/+3.7     68.5       64.4    +4.1
NOV       68.9/+1.6      42.4/+0.1     55.6       54.8    +0.8  
DEC       60.4/+0.4      38.8/+4.3     49.6       47.2    +2.4  

JAN 2018  57.1/-0.8      29.2/-3.6     43.1       45.4    -2.3  

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2015/2016/2017 MONTHLY 
PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE  
              (INCHES) 
JAN 2016       1.94     3.58    -1.64
FEB            4.69     3.61    +1.08
MAR            1.88     3.73    -1.85
APR            2.80     2.62    +0.18  
MAY            2.61     2.97    -0.36
JUN            2.39     4.69    -2.30
JUL            1.79     5.46    -3.67
AUG            4.83     5.26    -0.43
SEP            6.81     3.54    +3.27
OCT            2.09     3.27    -1.18
NOV            2.01     2.74    -0.73
DEC            3.35     3.22    +0.13 
ANNUAL        39.55    44.59    -5.04

JAN 2017       7.04     3.58    +3.46
FEB            1.60     3.61    -2.01 
MAR            2.38     3.73    -1.35
APR            6.11     2.62    +3.49 
MAY            7.15     2.97    +4.18
JUN            5.13     4.69    +0.44
JUL            5.42     5.46    -0.04
AUG            1.92     5.26    -3.34
SEP            4.55     3.54    +1.01
OCT            1.57     3.17    -1.60  
NOV            1.28     2.74    -1.46
DEC            3.29     3.22    +0.07

JAN 2018       2.42     3.58    -1.16

AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2015/2016/2017 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE  
              (INCHES)  
JAN 2016       1.66     3.91     -2.25
FEB            3.76     3.92     -0.16 
MAR            3.18     4.18     -1.00
APR            4.42     2.84     +1.58
MAY            5.71     2.65     +3.06 
JUN            2.87     4.72     -1.85
JUL            1.31     4.33     -3.02
AUG            3.66     4.32     -0.66
SEP            6.81     3.54     +3.27
OCT            4.45     3.17     +1.28 
NOV            0.62     2.82     -2.20 
DEC            4.41     3.39     +1.02
ANNUAL        38.27    43.57     -5.02

JAN 2017      10.13     3.91     +6.22  
FEB            2.11     3.92     -1.81 
MAR            1.77     4.18     -2.41
APR            2.60     2.84     -0.24
MAY            3.14     2.65     +0.69
JUN            3.52     4.72     -1.20 
JUL            5.04     4.33     +0.71
AUG            5.87     4.32     +1.55  
SEP            4.28     3.22     +1.06 
OCT            0.83     3.27     -2.44
NOV            1.36     2.82     -1.46
DEC            4.11     3.39     +0.72

JAN 2018       2.09     3.91     -1.82


The 3-Month Outlook for Winter/Spring 
(February/March/April)...

The outlook calls for a 33 to 40 percent chance of above normal 
temperatures along with a 33 to 40 percent chance of below 
normal precipitation. 

Go to the Climate Prediction Center web page at 
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov for more details and the latest outlooks. 

ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
...La Nina Advisory...

Equatorial sea surface temperatures are below average
across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. La Nina conditions 
are predicted to continue (85%-95%) at least through the Northern 
Hemisphere Winter, with a transition to ENSO-neutral expected 
during the Spring. 

Climate Outlooks and ENSO Discussions courtesy of NOAA Climate
Prediction Center...www.cpc.noaa.gov .

Note...much appreciation goes out to our NWS Cooperative Weather 
Observers...CoCoRaHS (Community...Collaborative...Rain...Hail and
Snow Network) Observers...South Carolina State Climate Office...
Southeast Regional Climate Center...Richland County Emergency 
Services...USGS and local weather partners for the data they provide 
throughout the year. Their hard work and dedication is greatly 
appreciated.  

Temperature records for Columbia go back to 1887 and for Augusta  
back to 1873. Precipitation records for Columbia go back to 1878 
and for Augusta back to 1871.  

Additional climate information, including current and archived
daily and monthly summaries, can be found on the National Weather
Service Columbia SC home page at http://www.weather.gov/cae.

$$

Vaughan