Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
152 PM EDT Wed Aug 15 2018

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...


...June and July 2018 Climate Summary...

...Heavy Rainfall from Sub-Tropical Storm Alberto in late May Produced
Flooding along Lake Wateree (June)...
...Above Normal Temperatures for June...
...5th Warmest June on Record at Columbia...
...Below Normal Precipitation for June...
...Numerous Severe Thunderstorm Events During June...
...Near Normal Temperatures for July...
...Rainfall Above Normal for much of Midlands and CSRA for July...
...Temperatures reach the Century Mark for the first time this Summer...


The first two months of meteorological Summer were a bit different
from each other. June was warmer and drier than normal across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area. The weather pattern across
the Carolinas and Georgia was very active and there were numerous
reports of severe thunderstorms. July saw temperatures and rainfall
return to more seasonable levels for Summer. The effects of Sub-
Tropical Storm Alberto lingered into early June as water made its
way down the Catawba/Wateree Basin producing some minor flooding
along the shores of Lake Wateree.


It was the 5th warmest June on record at Columbia. Here are the top
5 warmest June months on record.

1. 83.7 degrees in 2010 and 1952
3. 83.3 degrees in 2011
4. 83.0 degrees in 2016
5. 82.8 degrees in 2018


...Augusta Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for June was
80.5 degrees or 1.9 degrees above the normal of 78.6 degrees.

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for July was
81.0 degrees or 0.6 degrees below the normal of 81.6 degrees.

...Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for June was 82.8
degrees or 3.7 degrees above the normal of 79.1 degrees.

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for July was 83.5
degrees or 1.3 degrees above the normal of 82.2 degrees.

...Orangeburg Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at the Orangeburg County Airport for June
was 80.7 degrees or 2.4 degrees above the normal of 78.3
degrees.

The average temperature at the Orangeburg County Airport for July
was 80.8 degrees or 1.0 degrees below the normal of 81.8 degrees.


...Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 5.19 inches of rainfall during June.
Normal is 4.72 inches.

Augusta Bush Field received 3.13 inches of rainfall during July.
Normal is 4.33 inches.

...Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 3.45 inches of rainfall during June.
Normal is 4.69 inches.

Columbia Metro Airport received 3.68 inches of rainfall during July.
Normal is 5.46 inches

...Orangeburg Rainfall...

Orangeburg County Airport received 3.60 inches of rainfall during
June. Normal is 5.12 inches.

Orangeburg County Airport received 6.58 inches of rainfall during
July. Normal is 5.29 inches.


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

SC-CA-1  St. Matthews 3.2 ENE.....9.64 inches
SC-SM-10 Sumter 0.3 ENE...........7.81 inches
SC-SM-13 Sumter 0.2 NE............7.76 inches
SC-RC-61 Little Mountain 8.2 E....6.83 inches
SC-BM-1  Denmark 2.8 WNW..........6.53 inches

GA-MD-6  Thomson 54.1 NE..........8.28 inches
GA-BK-9  S. Augusta 4.1 S.........5.25 inches
GA-CU-7  Grovetown 3.4 NE.........5.16 inches
GA-CU-9  Appling 2.0 NE...........4.91 inches
GA-BK-10 Waynesboro 5.3 SE........4.76 inches

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

SC-SM-1   Sumter 1.3 SE..........10.93 inches
SC-OR-36  Orangeburg 7.6 N.......10.19 inches
SC-AK-78  N. Augusta.............10.15 inches
SC-LX-105 Gilbert 6.2 NNW.........8.91 inches
SC-SM-13  Sumter 0.2 NE...........8.50 inches

GA-BK-10  Waynesboro 5.3 SE......13.93 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE.l......11.73 inches
GA-MD-1   Thomson 2.5 S...........6.95 inches
GA-MD-5   Thomson 2.6 S...........6.39 inches
GA-CU-11  Grovetown 2.0 SSW.......6.06 inches


Here are some of the highest NWS Coop Observer monthly rainfall
reports for June:

BNLS1 Barnwell 5 ENE..............6.83 inches
THMG1 Thomson 1.5 SSE.............5.66 inches
LIMS1 Little Mountain.............5.23 inches
AIKS1 Aiken 2 E...................4.90 inches
MANS1 Manning.....................4.70 inches

Here are some of the highest NWS Coop Observer monthly rainfall
reports for July:

BNLS1 Barnwell 5 ENE.............12.09 inches
BAMS1 Bamberg.....................9.17 inches
SMRS1 Sumter......................7.03 inches
WYNG1 Waynesboro..................6.58 inches
NRTS1 North 5 NE..................6.21 inches


Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during June:

Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............64 mph on the 15th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............54 mph on the 24th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........50 mph on the 20th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......49 mph on the 14th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...35 mph on the 1st

Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during July:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......45 mph on the 22nd
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............37 mph on the 19th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........36 mph on the 25th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............35 mph on the 21st
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...34 mph on the 25th


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during June:

Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...45 mph on the 1st
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............42 mph on the 1st and 27th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......41 mph on the 1st
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............38 mph on the 2nd and 26th

Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during July:

Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............34 mph on the 22nd and 26th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...33 mph on the 23rd
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......31 mph on the 12th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............29 mph on the 6th


Lake Murray Water Temperatures at The Towers for June:

Warmest...87 degrees on June 20th
Coolest...78 degrees on June 1st

Lake Murray Water Temperatures at the Towers for July:

Warmest...87.6 degrees on July 3rd
Coolest...81.7 degrees on July 26th


TEMPERATURE/PRECIPITATION RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH OF
June:

Augusta...
24th...New daily rainfall total of 1.57 inches. Previous record
was 1.35 inches in 1884

COLUMBIA...
None

TEMPERATURE/PRECPITATION RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH OF
JULY:

Augusta...
None

Columbia...
11th...New daily record high temperature of 103 degrees. Previous
record was 102 degree set in 1993.

13th...Tied the daily record highest low temperature of 78 degrees
set in 2011.



Events for June and July 2018...

June 1st...
An upper level shortwave, combined with instability
enhanced by daytime heating, produced a band of scattered severe
thunderstorms which moved east across the region during the late
afternoon and evening. The storms downed numerous trees across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area. Some of the counties hit
the hardest were Newberry and Lexington.

June 3rd...
A surface front and upper level trough led to isolated
severe thunderstorms developing during the evening across portions
of the Midlands and CSRA. There were a few reports of penny to
quarter size hail across Lexington County.

June 11th...
Strong daytime heating, and surface boundaries,
produced scattered severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and
evening. There were several reports of trees downed along with hail
that ranged from pea size up to golf ball size across the central
Midlands and CSRA.

June 14th...
Strong daytime heating and an approaching front produced scattered
severe thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening across the
central Midlands. A wind gust report of 70 mph occurred at
Shaw AFB, half dollar size hail in Lee County and reports of trees
down in Sumter county.

June 16th...
A stalled frontal boundary, combined with increasing low level
moisture, led to severe thunderstorms across the central Midlands
and CSRA. These storms produced damaging winds along with heavy
rainfall.

Here are some of the highest rainfall reports:

St. Matthews 3.2 ENE (CoCoRaHS).......2.60 inches
Sumter (CoCoRaHS).....................2.54 inches
Sumter (CoCoRaHS).....................2.49 inches
Girard 8 NNW (USGS....................2.48 inches
Shaw AFB..............................1.83 inches


June 19th...
An upper level ridge produced temperatures above the century
mark across the Midlands and CSRA. While temperatures reached
the century mark at Columbia, temperatures were in the middle
80s in Lake Murray and around 60 degrees in the Saluda River
below Lake Murray.

Here are a few of the high temperatures from the afternoon:

EdVenture (RCWINDS)...................105 degrees
Fort Jackson (RCWINDS)................103 degrees
Weir Tower Ft. Jackson (RAWS).........102 degrees
Columbia Metro Airport (ASOS).........101 degrees
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (ASOS)..100 degrees
Flotilla Island Lk. Murray (NWS)......100 degrees
Lake Murray Water Temps Towers (USGS)..86 degrees
Saluda River Blo Lake Murray (USGS)....60 degrees


June 22nd...
A weak upper short wave and a surface trough combined to produce
a cluster of severe thunderstorms that moved east across portions
of the CSRA and Midlands during the late evening. The storms
downed several trees across the region.

June 24th...
Strong atmospheric instability, enhanced by strong daytime heating,
combined with an upper level disturbance to produce a band of
severe thunderstorms that swept southeast through the CSRA and
Midlands during the evening. The severe storms downed numerous
trees and produced dime to nickel size hail.

June 25th...
Strong daytime heating combined with a surface trough, an
approaching cold front, and colliding outflow boundaries produced
widespread severe thunderstorms across the CSRA and Midlands
during the afternoon and evening hours. There were multiple
reports of downed trees along with a few reports of nickel to
golf ball size hail across the area.

July 21st-22nd...
A strong upper level disturbance, rotating around a closed upper
low centered over the Midwest, provided upper dynamics and deep
layer shear. This combined with considerable instability, produced
a cluster of severe thunderstorms that shifted southeast across
portions of the western Midlands during the late night and early
morning hours. There were reports of trees and powerlines down
along with pea to nickel size hail across McCormick, Edgefield,
and Aiken counties.

July 29th...
Slow moving thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall across
Bamberg, Calhoun, Lexington and Orangeburg counties. Rainfall
amounts ranged from 2 to nearly 5 inches across the area.

Here are a few of the highest rainfall totals:

Houck Farm near Cameron (Public).......4.94 inches
Cordova 2 W (CoCoRaHS).................4.76 inches
Edisto 5 WNW (Public)..................4.33 inches
Persimmon Grove Lexington (Public).....4.12 inches
Bamberg (NWS Coop).....................4.06 inches
Brookdale 4 NW (CoCoRaHS)..............3.93 inches
Norway 5 E (CoCoRaHS)..................3.91 inches
Barnwell 1 WSW (CoCoRaHS)..............3.45 inches
Longview Estates Lexington (Public)....3.45 inches
Red Bank 4 W (CoCoRaHS)................3.30 inches
Lexington 3 SSE (CoCoRaHS).............3.27 inches
Barnwell 5 ENE (NWS Coop)..............3.20 inches
South Fork of the Edisto River (USGS)..2.95 inches
Orangeburg County Airport (ASOS).......2.77 inches
Orangeburg 3.2 NW (CoCoRaHS)...........2.57 inches



YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2016/2017/2018 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
FEB       70.1/+9.8      49.6/+12.8     59.8      48.5   +11.3
MAR       65.8/-2.4      42.5/-0.5      54.2      55.6    -1.4
APR       75.1/-1.2      49.4/-1.0      62.3      63.4    -1.1
MAY       87.3/+1.4      66.5/+7.0      76.9      71.7    +5.2
JUN       93.8/+3.8      71.7/+3.5      82.8      79.1    +3.7
JUL       93.5/+0.8      73.5/+1.9      83.5      82.2    +1.3


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2016/2017/2018 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
FEB       71.6/+9.3      48.4/+12.5    60.0       49.1   +10.9
MAR       67.7/-2.2      41.2/-1.4     54.5       55.9    -1.4
APR       75.1/-2.2      46.1/-2.0     60.6       62.7    -2.1
MAY       86.4/+1.4      61.5/+4.2     74.0       71.1    +2.9
JUN       92.2/+1.2      68.7/+2.5     80.5       78.6    +1.9
JUL       91.2/-2.2      70.9/+1.1     81.0       81.6    -0.6


COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2016/2017/2018 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
FEB            1.61     3.61    -2.00
MAR            2.97     3.73    -0.76
APR            3.10     2.62    +0.48
MAY            2.76     2.97    -0.21
JUN            3.45     4.69    -1.24
JUL            3.68     5.46    -1.78


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2016/2017/2018 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
FEB            1.57     3.92     -2.35
MAR            3.21     4.18     -0.97
APR            3.47     2.84     +0.63
MAY            8.21     2.65     +5.56
JUN            5.19     4.72     +0.47
JUL            3.13     4.33     -1.20


The 3-Month Outlook for Summer/Fall
(August/September/October)...

The outlook calls for a 40 percent chance of above normal
temperatures along with equal chances for above, below or near
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)...
...El Nino Watch Continues...

Equatorial sea surface temperatures are near average across most of
the Pacific Ocean. There is a 60 percent chance of El Nino
conditions developing in the Northern Hemisphere by the Fall of 2018
(September-November). This increases to 70 percent during the Winter
of 2018-19.

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