Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1226 PM EDT Wed Sep 20 2017
...August 2017 Climate Summary...
...Very Quiet Month Across The Region...
...Abnormally Dry Conditions Developed During The Month...
...Above Normal Temperatures for Summer (June, July and August)...
August was most likely the quietest month of the Summer across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area. There were only 8 Severe
Thunderstorm Warnings issued for the entire month. There were no
Flash Flood or River Flood Events. Temperatures were slightly
above normal with rainfall being below normal across much of the
area. The below normal rainfall at many locations led to much of
the Midlands and areas along the Savannah River to fall into D0,
abnormally dry, conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Summer 2017 Temperature/Precipitation Highlights...
Columbia...Average Temperature 81.9 degrees. Normal is 80.7
degrees. The Summer was 1.2 degrees above normal.
Augusta...Average Temperature 82.0 degrees. Normal is 80.2
degrees. The Summer was 1.8 degrees above normal.
Columbia...Total Precipitation 12.47 inches. Normal is 15.41
inches. Total Summer Rainfall was 2.94 inches below normal.
Augusta...Total Precipitation 14.43 inches. Normal is 13.47
inches. Total Summer Rainfall was 0.96 inches above normal.
It was tied for the 11th warmest Summer on record at Columbia with
1987.
It was tied for the 12th warmest Summer on record at Augusta with
1934.
...Augusta Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for August
was 82.3 degrees or 1.8 degrees above the normal of 80.5.
...Columbia Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for August was
82.3 degrees or 1.5 degrees above the normal of 80.8.
...Augusta Rainfall...
Augusta Bush Field received 5.87 inches of rainfall during August.
Normal is 4.32 inches.
...Columbia Rainfall...
Columbia Metro Airport received 1.92 inches of rainfall during
August. Normal is 5.26 inches
Here are some of the highest rainfall CoCoRaHS Reports for August:
SC-BM-6 Ehrhardt 0.2 SE.........8.16 inches
SC-AK-73 Salley 4.9 NNE..........7.27 inches
SC-KR-4 Camden 6.6 NE...........6.94 inches
SC-CF-5 Pageland 9.0 WNW........6.23 inches
SC-AK-23 Aiken 2.3 S.............5.98 inches
GA-MD-5 Thomson 2.6 S...........6.19 inches
GA-BK-9 South Augusta 4.1 S.....5.77 inches
GA-CU-11 Grovetown 2.0 SSW.......5.39 inches
Here are some of the highest NWS Coop Observer Reports for August:
NRTS1 North 5 NE..................5.48 inches
WATS1 Wateree Dam.................4.89 inches
PLNS1 Pelion......................4.61 inches
LNTS1 Longtown....................4.09 inches
AIKS1 Aiken 2 E...................3.95 inches
Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during August:
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......45 mph on the 4th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............37 mph on the 6th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........37 mph on the 17th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............35 mph on the 7th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...30 mph on the 13th
Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during August:
Lake Murray Towers (USGS).............40 mph on the 7th
Lake Murray Dam (RCWINDS).............39 mph on the 7th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............36 mph on the 13th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...35 mph on the 31st
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............30 mph on the 11th and 27th
Lake Murray Water Temperatures at The Towers:
Warmest...88.5 degrees on August 18th
Coolest...78.4 degrees on August 28th
TEMPERATURE RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH OF
August:
August 9th - A new daily record maximum rainfall was set when 2.45
inches of rain fell. The previous record was 2.05 inches set in
1912.
August 17th - The minimum temperature was 78 degrees. This broke
the previous record for overnight minimum temperature of 77
degrees set in 2010.
COLUMBIA...
August 17th - The minimum temperature was 77 degrees. This tied
the highest minimum temperature for that date set back in 1943.
Events for August 2017...
There were only 8 severe thunderstorm warnings issued for the
month of August. Compared to June and July, this was the most
quiet month of the Summer for active weather. Most of the events
were due to hail that was up to a quarter in size along with a few
downed trees...power lines and large branches.
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 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
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
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 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 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
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2015/2016/2017 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
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
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2015/2016/2017 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
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
The 3-Month Outlook for late Summer/Fall (September/October/November)...
The outlook calls for a 40 percent chance of above normal temperatures
with a 33 to 40 percent chance of above normal precipitation.
GO TO THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER WEB PAGE AT
WWW.CPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV IN LOWER CASE LETTERS FOR MORE DETAILS AND THE
LATEST OUTLOOKS.
ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
...ENSO Neutral Conditions Are Present...
...La Nina Watch Issued...
Equatorial sea surface temperatures are near to below average
across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. There is an
increasing chance, (55%-60%) of La Nina during the Northern
Hemisphere Fall and Winter 2017-18.
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 .
$$
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