...Climate Summary for December...

...Temperatures Below Normal for the month...
...Precipitation Near Normal for the month...
...A Few Snow Flurries Across the CSRA early Christmas Morning...


...2020 Review of Temperatures and Precipitation...

...3rd Warmest Year on Record at Augusta...
...11th Warmest Year on Record at Columbia...
...8th Wettest Year on Record at Augusta...
...13th Wettest Year on Record at Columbia...


After a warm fall across the Midlands and Central Savannah River
Area, temperatures took a chilly break during the month of December.
Temperatures were much cooler across the region with most stations
recording below normal temperatures for the month. Precipitation was
close to normal across much of the area. A strong cold front moved
across the area on Christmas Eve. This was followed by an upper
level weather system that produced a few snow flurries during the
early morning hours of Christmas Day. Most of the activity occurred
across the CSRA and the northern Midlands. There was no snow
reported around the central Midlands including the Columbia metro
area.

A heavy rainfall event in late November produced nuisance to minor
flooding along the Congaree River at Columbia and downstream to the
Congaree National Park during the first week of December.


...2020 Review...

...3rd Warmest Year at Augusta...
1. 67.7 degrees in 2017
2. 67.3 degrees in 2019
3. 67.1 degrees in 2020
4. 66.9 degrees in 1933
5. 66.7 degrees in 1932

The warmest year at Columbia was 2017 with an average temperature of
67.3 degrees. The average temperature for 2020 was 65.8 degrees.

...8th Wettest Year at Augusta...
1. 73.82 inches in 1929
2. 66.04 inches in 1964
3. 62.33 inches in 1948
4. 60.66 inches in 1912
5. 57.19 inches in 1874
6. 56.60 inches in 1947
7. 56.41 inches in 1991
8. 56.25 inches in 2020

The wettest year at Columbia was 1964 with a total of 70.53 inches
of precipitation. The total precipitation for 2020 was 56.33 inches.




.Augusta Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for December
was 46.9 degrees or 0.3 degrees below the normal of 47.2 degrees


.Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for December was
45.8 degrees or 0.9 degrees below the normal of 46.7 degrees.


.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 3.17 inches of rainfall during December,
0.22 inches below the normal of 3.39 inches


.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 3.49 inches of rainfall during
December, 0.27 inches above the normal of 3.22 inches



Here are some of the highest Coop Observer monthly rainfall totals
for December 2020:

CTFS1 Chesterfield 3 E.............4.62 inches
CEWS1 Cheraw Water Plant...........4.10 inches
EDFS1 Edgefield 2.2 NE.............3.79 inches
LUGS1 Lugoff 2 NE..................3.70 inches
JEFS1 Jefferson 0.1 NW.............3.49 inches


Here are some of the highest CoCoRaHS Observer monthly rainfall
totals for December 2020:

SC-LX-126 Gilbert 7.1 N...........6.09 inches
SC-RC-41  Blythewood 1.0 W........5.08 inches
SC-SM-16  Sumter 6.8..............5.04 inches
SC-LX-35  Lexington 5.9 SW........5.01 inches
SC-ED-16  Edgefield 3.3 N.........4.94 inches

GA-CU-18  Evans 4.9 WNW...........4.71 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE.........3.53 inches
GA-MD-5   Thomson 2.6 S...........3.34 inches
GA-RC-9   W. Augusta 0.9 NW.......3.33 inches
GA-BK-9   S. Augusta 4.1 S........2.86 inches



Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites During December:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......52 mph on the 24th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........43 mph on the 24th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............41 mph on the 24th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...35 mph on the 14th and 24th
Augusta Daniel Field (CUB)............34 mph on the 24th


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during December:

Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......43 mph on the 4th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...40 mph on the 25th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............38 mph on the 24th
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............37 mph on the 24th


Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at The Towers for
December:

Warmest...64.9F on the 1st
Coolest...55.0F on the 30th and 31st


Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the month
of November:

Augusta...

None


Columbia...

None



Significant Weather Events for December...

12/1 - 12/4...Minor river flooding occurred along the Congaree River
from Columbia downstream to the Congaree National Park. A deepening
area of low pressure moved from the Gulf of America northeast up
through the southern Appalachian Mountains. The system produced
rainfall amount from 1 to 3 inches across the Upstate of South
Carolina and around 1 inch across the Midlands. Nuisance flooding
occurred along the Congaree River at Columbia as the river crested
at 11.63 feet on the afternoon of the 2nd. Advisory Stage is 10.0
feet. The river crested at 116.3 feet at Carolina Eastman on the
evening of the 2nd, flood stage is 115.0 feet. The river crested at
16.31 feet at Gadsden-Congaree National Park on the late evening of
the 2nd, flood stage is 15.0 feet.


12/7...A strong upper area of low pressure moved across the region
on the 4th. This system produced strong gusty winds along with small
hail. Hail ranging from one quarter inch to around one half inch
fell across portions of Lancaster, Kershaw, Edgefield and Aiken
counties.


12/19...Cold Canadian high pressure settled in across the region
during the morning of the 19th. This produced widespread temperatures
in the lower to middle 20s.

Here are the morning low temperatures on the 19th:

...MORNING LOW TEMPERATURE REPORTS...

Location                     Temp      Time/Date       Provider

Lincolnton                    21 F     0800 AM 12/19   COOP
Cedar Creek                   22 F     0800 AM 12/19   COOP
Graniteville                  22 F     0800 AM 12/19   COOP
Saluda                        22 F     0804 AM 12/19   CWOP
Spring Hill                   22 F     0805 AM 12/19   RCWINDS
2 ESE Saluda                  22 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWS
Elgin                         23 F     0734 AM 12/19   CWOP
Dutch Fork HS                 23 F     0655 AM 12/19   RCWINDS
Graniteville                  23 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Wedgefield                    23 F     0601 AM 12/19   CWOP
Savriv                        23 F     0707 AM 12/19   RAWS
Mccrady Training Center       23 F     0733 AM 12/19   RAWS
2 WSW Chapin                  24 F     0800 AM 12/19   AWS
Springfield                   24 F     0750 AM 12/19   CWOP
Pinewood                      24 F     0700 AM 12/19   CWOP
Evans                         24 F     0751 AM 12/19   CWOP
Aiken                         24 F     0735 AM 12/19   AWOS
Thomson-Mcduffie County Airp  24 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWOS
7 WNW Saluda                  24 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWS
5 N Saluda                    24 F     0800 AM 12/19   AWS
4 WNW Waxhaw                  25 F     0800 AM 12/19   AWS
Orangeburg                    25 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Red Bank area                 25 F     0754 AM 12/19   CWOP
Lexington                     25 F     0800 AM 12/19   CWOP
Peak                          25 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Camden Woodward               25 F     0655 AM 12/19   AWOS
6 SSE Augusta                 26 F     0535 AM 12/19   AWS
Augusta                       26 F     0800 AM 12/19   CWOP
North Augusta                 26 F     0719 AM 12/19   CWOP
West Columbia                 26 F     0747 AM 12/19   CWOP
Columbia                      26 F     0800 AM 12/19   CWOP
Williston                     26 F     0746 AM 12/19   CWOP
Society Hill                  26 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Augusta Bush                  26 F     0753 AM 12/19   ASOS
Columbia                      26 F     0756 AM 12/19   ASOS
Mcentire Ang                  26 F     0556 AM 12/19   AWOS
1 ESE North                   26 F     0656 AM 12/19   AWOS
Long Cane                     26 F     0754 AM 12/19   RAWS
Newberry                      26 F     0800 AM 12/19   AWS
Irmo                          26 F     0505 AM 12/19   AWS
Scfc Portable                 26 F     0719 AM 12/19   RAWS
Newberry (WEATHERSTEM)        27 F     0800 AM 12/19   MESOWEST
Cheraw                        27 F     0803 AM 12/19   CWOP
Aiken                         27 F     0750 AM 12/19   CWOP
Gracewood                     27 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Fort Mill                     27 F     0418 AM 12/19   CWOP
Ridgeway                      27 F     0802 AM 12/19   CWOP
Appling                       27 F     0737 AM 12/19   CWOP
Pinewood                      27 F     0801 AM 12/19   CWOP
Bamberg                       27 F     0743 AM 12/19   CWOP
Sumter                        27 F     0742 AM 12/19   CWOP
Congaree                      27 F     0747 AM 12/19   RAWS
Barnwell                      27 F     0555 AM 12/19   AWOS
Cheraw                        27 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWOS
Lancaster                     27 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWOS
Sumter Municipal Airport      27 F     0755 AM 12/19   AWOS
Pinewood                      27 F     0715 AM 12/19   AWS
6 SE Mayesville               27 F     0736 AM 12/19   AWS
Orangeburg                    27 F     0516 AM 12/19   RAWS
Fort Gordon                   27 F     0701 AM 12/19   RAWS


12/26...Cold Canadian high pressure settled in across the region
during the morning of the 26th. This was the coldest air of the
season following at vigorous cold front that moved across the region
on Christmas Eve. Morning low temperatures in the middle to upper
teens occurred across the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area.

...24 HOUR LOW TEMPERATURE REPORTS...

Location                     Temp      Time/Date       Provider
Jefferson                     16 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Lexington Co Airport          16 F     0700 AM 12/26   RCWINDS
Saluda                        16 F     0754 AM 12/26   CWOP
Wagener                       16 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Springhill                    16 F     0725 AM 12/26   RCWINDS
Cedar Creek                   17 F     1100 AM 12/26   COOP
2 WSW Chapin                  17 F     0745 AM 12/26   AWS
Crossroads FS (Chapin)        17 F     0710 AM 12/26   RCWINDS
Gilbert                       17 F     0830 AM 12/26   CWOP
Heath Springs                 17 F     0745 AM 12/26   AWS
Lake Greenwood                17 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
2 ESE Saluda                  17 F     0806 AM 12/26   AWS
5 N Saluda                    17 F     0816 AM 12/26   AWS
Mccrady Training Center       17 F     0733 AM 12/26   RAWS
4 WNW Waxhaw                  18 F     0805 AM 12/26   AWS
Elgin                         18 F     0633 AM 12/26   CWOP
Red Bank area                 18 F     0754 AM 12/26   CWOP
Barnwell                      18 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Peak                          18 F     0645 AM 12/26   CWOP
Williston                     18 F     0705 AM 12/26   CWOP
Aiken                         18 F     0655 AM 12/26   AWOS
Lancaster                     18 F     0735 AM 12/26   AWOS
Little Mountain               18 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Lincolnton                    18 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Savriv                        18 F     0707 AM 12/26   RAWS
Swansea                       18 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Newberry                      18 F     0625 AM 12/26   AWS
Springfield                   19 F     0740 AM 12/26   CWOP
North Augusta                 19 F     0758 AM 12/26   CWOP
Graniteville                  19 F     0817 AM 12/26   CWOP
Fort Mill                     19 F     0357 AM 12/26   CWOP
Pinewood                      19 F     0701 AM 12/26   CWOP
Wedgefield                    19 F     0701 AM 12/26   CWOP
North Augusta                 19 F     0757 AM 12/26   CWOP
Srf2 - Portable               19 F     0829 AM 12/26   RAWS
Barnwell                      19 F     0735 AM 12/26   AWOS
Clarks Hill                   19 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Camden Woodward               19 F     0735 AM 12/26   AWOS
Cheraw                        19 F     0755 AM 12/26   AWOS
Pelion                        19 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Saluda                        19 F     0700 AM 12/26   COOP
Thomson-Mcduffie County Airp  19 F     0735 AM 12/26   AWOS
Long Cane                     19 F     0754 AM 12/26   RAWS
Savraw                        19 F     0706 AM 12/26   RAWS
Fort Gordon                   19 F     0801 AM 12/26   RAWS
Wedgewood                     19 F     0806 AM 12/26   AWS



YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2019/2020 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2019  57.7/+1.7      36.3/+2.6      47.0      44.8    +2.2
FEB       65.1/+4.8      41.2/+4.4      53.2      48.5    +4.7
MAR       67.4/-0.8      42.7/+0.3      55.1      55.6    -0.5
APR       77.9/+1.6      52.7/+2.3      65.3      63.4    +1.9
MAY       89.2/+5.4      65.4/+5.9      77.3      71.7    +5.6
JUN       88.9/-1.1      68.2/ 0.0      78.5      79.1    -0.6
JUL       93.2/+2.9      72.2/+0.6      82.7      82.2    +0.5
AUG       92.5/+1.8      72.1/+1.1      82.3      80.8    +1.5
SEP       93.0/+7.8      68.9/+4.7      80.9      74.7    +6.2
OCT       82.0/+5.9      58.3/+6.2      70.1      64.1    +6.0
NOV       63.0/-4.3      39.6/-2.7      51.3      54.8    -3.5
DEC       61.4/+3.2      39.6/+4.3      50.5      46.7    +3.8
Annual

Jan 2020  60.8/+4.8      41.4/+7.7      51.1      44.8    +6.3
Feb       61.7/+1.4      41.7/+4.9      51.7      48.5    +3.2
Mar       72.2/+4.0      51.9/+8.9      62.1      55.6    +6.5
Apr       76.1/-0.2      50.8/+0.4      63.5      63.4    +0.1
May       80.8/-3.0      58.7/-0.8      69.7      71.7    -2.0
Jun       87.2/-2.8      68.5/+0.3      77.9      79.1    -1.2
Jul       93.1/+0.4      73.7/+2.1      83.4      82.2    +1.2
Aug       90.1/-0.6      73.1/+2.1      81.6      80.8    +0.8
Sep       83.4/-1.8      65.7/+1.5      74.6      74.7    -0.1
Oct       79.5/+3.4      57.8/+5.7      68.7      64.1    +4.6
Nov       71.1/+3.8      48.0/+5.7      59.5      54.8    +4.8
Dec       57.2/-1.0      34.4/-0.9      45.8      46.7    -0.9


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2019/2020 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2019  60.7/+2.8      37.4/+4.6     49.1       45.4    +3.7
FEB       68.4/+6.1      43.2/+7.3     55.8       49.1    +6.7
MAR       71.2/+1.3      42.8/+0.8     57.0       55.9    +1.1
APR       80.0/+2.7      52.1/+4.0     66.0       62.7    +3.3
MAY       91.0/+6.0      64.1/+6.8     77.5       71.1    +6.4
JUN       90.7/-0.3      67.6/+1.4     79.2       78.6    +0.6
JUL       96.3/+2.9      71.1/+1.3     83.7       81.6    +2.1
AUG       93.7/+1.9      71.5/+2.2     82.6       80.5    +2.1
SEP       93.7/+7.0      66.8/+4.2     80.2       74.6    +5.6
OCT       83.3/+5.6      58.0/+7.0     70.6       64.4    +6.2
NOV       65.9/-3.2      40.0/-1.4     52.9       55.2    -2.3
DEC       63.8/+3.8      40.4/+5.9     52.1       47.2    +4.9
Annual

Jan 2020  64.0/+6.1      41.5/+8.7     52.7       45.4    +7.3
Feb       63.8/+1.5      42.2/+6.3     53.0       49.1    +3.9
Mar       75.5/+5.6      52.1/+10.1    63.8       55.9    +7.9
Apr       77.8/+0.5      50.2/+2.1     64.0       62.7    +1.3
May       83.9/-1.1      58.0/+0.7     71.0       71.1    -0.1
Jun       89.7/-1.3      68.1/+1.9     78.9       78.6    +0.3
Jul       95.4/+2.0      72.8/+3.0     84.1       81.6    +2.5
Aug       93.2/+1.4      72.1/+2.9     82.7       80.5    +2.2
Sep       86.0/-0.7      66.2/+3.6     76.1       74.6    +1.5
Oct       82.2/+4.5      58.3/+7.3     70.3       64.4    +5.9
Nov       74.8/+5.7      48.5/+7.1     61.6       55.2    +6.4
Dec       60.1/+0.1      33.8/-0.7     46.9       47.2    -0.3


COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2019/2020 MONTHLY/YEARLY
PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
Jan 2019       3.07     3.58    -0.57
Feb            0.88     3.61    -2.73
Mar            2.61     3.73    -1.12
Apr            2.86     2.62    +0.24
May            2.35     2.97    -0.62
Jun            8.03     4.69    +3.34
Jul            4.50     5.46    +0.96
Aug            1.40     5.26    -3.86
Sep            1.95     3.54    -1.59
Oct            2.36     3.17    -0.81
Nov            3.00     2.74    +0.26
Dec            9.31     3.22    +6.09
Annual        42.26    44.59    -2.33

Jan 2020       5.84     3.58    +2.26
Feb            5.48     3.61    +1.87
Mar            4.17     3.73    +0.44
Apr            2.98     2.62    +0.36
May            9.32     2.97    +6.35
Jun            4.78     4.69    +0.09
Jul            7.61     5.46    +2.15
Aug            3.74     5.26    -1.52
Sep            4.50     3.54    +0.96
Oct            0.94     3.17    -2.23
Nov            1.84     2.82    +0.98
Dec            3.49     3.20    +0.27
Ytd           56.33    44.59   +11.74


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2019/2020 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
Jan 2019       4.40     3.91     +0.49
Feb            1.14     3.92     -2.78
Mar            2.23     4.18     -1.95
Apr            3.01     2.84     +0.17
May            3.70     2.65     +1.05
Jun            6.45     4.72     +1.73
Jul            1.39     4.33     -2.94
Aug           12.92     4.32     +8.60
Sep            0.77     3.22     -2.45
Oct            4.12     3.27     +0.85
Nov            2.62     2.82     -0.20
DEC            8.12     3.39     +4.73
Annual        50.87    43.57     +6.30

Jan 2020       4.56     3.91     +0.65
Feb            7.17     3.92     +3.25
Mar            5.33     4.18     +1.15
Apr            5.54     2.84     +2.70
May            6.30     2.65     +3.65
Jun            2.32     4.72     -2.40
Jul            7.09     4.33     +2.76
Aug            6.20     4.32     +1.88
Sep            5.50     3.22     +2.28
Oct            1.23     3.27     -2.04
NOV            3.48     2.74     +0.74
DEC            3.17     3.39     -0.22
Ytd           56.25    43.57    +12.68


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

The outlook calls for a 40 to 50 percent chance of above normal
temperatures with a 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...

La Nina conditions are present and are likely to continue through
the Northern Hemisphere winter 2020-21. There is a 95 percent chance
of this occurring January through March. Thee is a potential
transition during Spring 2021 There is a 50 percent chance of
neutral during April through June.

Equatorial sea surface temperatures are below average from the west-
central to eastern Pacific Ocean.

The tropical atmospheric circulation is consistent with La Nina.

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 .