Public Information Statement
National Weather Service
955 PM EST Sat Dec 10 2016

...Climate Summary for November 2016...

...Drought Increased Across the Region...
...Temperatures Slightly Above Normal...
...Precipitation Below Normal...
...Growing Season Comes to an End Across the Area...

...4th Warmest Fall Year on Record at Columbia...
...13th Warmest Fall Year on Record at Augusta...

...Drought Worsens Across the CSRA and Western Midlands...

November will be remembered for the continuation of the dry
conditions that have plagued the Midlands and Central Savannah River
Area for much of the Summer into the Fall. Below normal rainfall
along the Savannah River persisted and drought conditions worsened
with many areas in Extreme Drought.

...Meteorological Fall (Sep...Oct and Nov)...
The average temperature at Augusta Bush Field was 67.7 degrees or
3.0 degrees above the normal of 64.7 degrees. The total precipitation
was 7.29 inches or 2.02 inches below the normal of 9.31 inches.


The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport was 68.0 degrees
or 3.5 degrees above the normal of 64.5 degrees. The total
precipitation was 13.27 inches or 3.82 inches above the normal
of 9.45 inches.


It was tied for the 4th warmest Fall on record at Columbia. Here are
the top 5 warmest Fall years:

1. 1931 - 68.9 degrees
2. 1919 and 1941 - 68.6 degrees
3. 2016 and 1973 - 68.0 degrees



...Augusta Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for November
was 57.3 degrees or 2.1 degrees above the normal of 55.2 degrees.

...Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for November was
56.2 degrees or 1.4 degrees above the normal of 54.8 degrees.


...Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 0.62 inches of rainfall during November.
Normal is 2.82 inches.

...Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 2.01 inches of rainfall during
November Normal is 2.74 inches


Here are some of the highest rainfall CoCoRaHS Reports for
November:

SC-MC-5   McCormick 2.3 W.........2.93 inches
SC-ED-5   Edgefield 10.5 N........2.37 inches
SC-LX-108 Lexington 5.6 SW........2.31 inches
SC-LX-35  Lexington 2.9 NE........2.30 inches
SC-RC-6   Blythewood 4.7 SSE......2.30 inches

Here are some of the lowest rainfall CoCoRaHS Reports for
November:

SC-OR-9   Orangeburg 0.3 ENE......0.28 inches
SC-BM-6   Ehrhardt 0.2 E..........0.33 inches
SC-OR-27  Orangeburg 1.7 NW.......0.34 inches
SC-OR-5   Holly Hill 0.4 N........0.47 inches
SC-AK-57  Aiken 2.9 SSE...........0.54 inches


Here are some of the lowest NWS Coop Observer Reports for
November:

WYNG1 Waynesboro..................0.09 inches
BNLS1 Barnwell 5 ENE..............0.19 inches
BAMS1 Bamberg.....................0.23 inches
HHLS1 Holly Hill 1 SW.............0.29 inches
MIDG1 Midville....................0.42 inches



Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during November:

Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........40 mph on the 19th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............36 mph on the 19th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............36 mph on the 19th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......36 mph on the 19th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...35 mph on the 19th


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during November:

Lake Murray Towers (IRMS1-USGS).......37 mph on the 19th
Lake Thurmond (CHDS1).................37 mph on the 19th
Lake Wateree (WATS1)..................35 mph on the 19th
Flotilla Island Lake Murray (LMFS1)...32 mph on the 19th


Lake Murray Water Temperatures at The Towers:

Warmest...71.2 degrees on Nov. 2nd
Coolest...61.9 degrees on Nov. 29th


TEMPERATURE RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH OF
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER:

AUGUSTA...
November 3rd the high temperature was 87 degrees. This
broke the record of 86 degrees set in 1974.

November 30th the high temperature was 81 degrees. This tied the
record high of 81 degrees set in 1991.


COLUMBIA...
None


Events for November 2016...

November...Smoke from wildfires across Georgia...North Carolina and
South Carolina often drifted east and southeast across the Midlands
and Central Savannah River Area during the first half of the month.
This led to air quality alerts. The Pinnacle Mountain Fire in
Pickens County South Carolina burned 10,560 acres and was the 3rd
largest in state history. The dry conditions during the month led to
burning bans across much of the state of South Carolina.

November 20th-21st...

The first widespread freeze across the Midlands and Central Savannah
River area occurred on these two mornings. Temperatures fell into the
middle to upper 20s and ended the growing season across the area.

Here are a few of the morning low temperatures from those two days:

Cedar Creek (NWS Coop)................24 degrees on the 21st
Landfill (RCWinds)....................24 degrees on the 21st
8 SE New Ellenton (RAWS)..............25 degrees on the 21st
8 E Fort Jackson (RAWS)...............26 degrees on the 20th and
21st.
Hopkins (RCWinds).....................26 degrees on the 21st.
Lancaster County Airport (AWOS).......27 degrees on the 20th
Thomson-McDuffie County Airport (AWOS)28 degrees on the 21st
Augusta Bush Field (ASOS).............29 degrees on the 20th


November 30th...

A squall line that developed ahead of an approaching cold front
produced isolated severe thunderstorms across the Midlands. The
storms downed trees in Newberry and Fairfield counties.



YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...

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

          AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP   NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2015  55.7/-0.3      33.7/ 0.0      44.7      44.8    -0.1
FEB       54.1/-6.2      32.1/-4.7      43.1      48.5    -5.4
MAR       70.3/+2.1      46.9/+3.9      58.6      55.6    +3.0
APR       77.8/+1.5      50.4/+5.7      67.0      63.4    +3.6
MAY       86.0/+2.2      61.0/+1.5      73.5      71.7    +1.8
JUN       93.6/+3.6      71.6/+3.4      82.6      79.1    +3.5
JUL       96.4/+3.7      74.3/+2.7      85.3      82.2    +3.1
AUG       92.9/+2.2      72.2/+1.2      82.6      80.8    +1.8
SEP       85.9/+0.7      67.6/+3.4      76.7      74.7    +2.0
OCT       75.6/-0.5      53.6/+1.5      64.6      64.1    +0.5
NOV       69.4/+2.1      48.6/+6.3      59.0      54.8    +4.2
DEC       70.1/+11.9     50.1/+14.8     60.1      46.7   +13.4

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


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

          AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP   NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2015  55.8/-2.1      32.1/-0.7     44.0       45.4    -1.4
FEB       55.4/-6.9      30.1/-5.8     42.8       49.1    -6.3
MAR       71.3/+1.4      45.3/+3.3     58.3       55.9    +2.4
APR       77.8/+0.5      54.9/+6.8     66.3       62.7    +3.6
MAY       86.7/+1.7      58.1/+0.8     72.4       71.1    +1.3
JUN       93.1/+2.1      68.1/+1.9     80.6       78.6    +2.0
JUL       95.8/+2.4      71.3/+1.5     83.6       81.6    +2.0
AUG       91.4/-0.4      69.8/+0.5     80.6       80.5    +0.1
SEP       85.5/-1.2      65.1/+2.5     75.3       74.6    +0.7
OCT       77.7/-2.1      52.4/+1.4     64.0       64.4    -0.4
NOV       70.2/+1.1      47.0/+5.6     58.6       55.2    +3.4
DEC       70.3/+10.3     48.3/+13.8    59.3       47.2   +12.1

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       22.5    +2.1

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

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
JAN 2015       2.60     3.58    -0.98
FEB            4.76     3.61    +1.15
MAR            2.78     3.73    -0.95
APR            4.03     2.62    +1.41
MAY            1.71     2.97    -1.26
JUN            8.79     4.69    +4.10
JUL            1.53     5.46    -3.93
AUG            4.85     5.26    -0.41
SEP            6.15     3.54    +2.61
OCT           14.46     3.17   +11.29
NOV            5.47     2.74    +2.73
DEC            6.45     3.22    +3.23
ANNUAL        63.58    44.59   +18.99

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

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

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
JAN 2015       2.10     3.91     -1.81
FEB            4.70     3.92     +0.78
MAR            3.04     4.18     -1.14
APR            4.86     2.84     +2.02
MAY            0.93     2.65     -1.72
JUN            3.50     4.72     -1.22
JUL            3.52     4.33     -0.81
AUG            3.74     4.32     -0.58
SEP            4.05     3.22     +0.83
OCT            4.62     3.27     +1.35
NOV            5.41     2.82     +2.59
DEC            6.92     3.39     +3.53
ANNUAL        47.39    43.57     +3.82

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


THE 3-MONTH OUTLOOK FOR FALL/WINTER
(December/January/February)...

The forecast calls for a 33 to 40 percent chance of above
normal temperatures with a 40 percent chance of below normal
rainfall.

ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
...La Nina Conditions are Present...

Equatorial sea surface temperatures are below average in
the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. La Nina is
slightly favored to persist...approximately 55 percent...through
Winter 2016-2017.

CLIMATE OUTLOOKS AND ENSO DISCUSSIONS COURTESY 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 .