Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
943 AM EST Mon Nov 26 2018

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...


...August and September 2018 Climate Summary...

...5th Warmest Summer on Record at Columbia...
...Hurricane Florence Affects South Carolina...
...3rd Highest Flood Crest at Cheraw on the Pee Dee River...
...Above Normal Temperatures for August...
...Rainfall Below Normal for August...
...Much Above Normal Temperatures for September...
...Rainfall Above Normal for September...


As the end of meteorological Summer came to a close, the trend of
above normal temperatures continued through August. However,
rainfall was below normal across the Midlands and Central Savannah
River Area. September however, was a much more active month across
the area as the tropics became much more active. The big story of
September was Hurricane Florence and the devastating flooding across
the northern Midlands and Pee Dee Region. Hurricane Florence began
as a tropical wave that developed off the coast of Africa on
September 6th. It developed into a Tropical Storm and Hurricane as
it moved westward across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane
Florence moved ashore along the southeast coast of North Carolina on
the 14th and moved slowly to the southwest into the Pee Dee region
and Midlands on the 15th and 16th before moving northwest away from
the Palmetto State. Florence produced tremendous rainfall across the
northern Midlands and Pee Dee region. All of the water moving
through the Yadkin/Pee Dee Basin and Waccamaw River Basin produced
record flooding that exceeded in many places flooding that was
produced by Hurricanes Matthew and Floyd.


Here are some rainfall amounts from Hurricane Florence:

Cheraw Water Plant.............22.58 inches
6 E Jefferson..................21.18 inches
Main Street Chesterfield.......19.94 inches
3 E Chesterfield...............17.09 inches
Jefferson......................16.84 inches
USGS Raingage near McBee.......12.93 inches
Black Creek Blo Chesterfield...12.20 inches
3 SE Pageland..................10.48 inches
9 WNW Pageland..................9.84 inches
7 ENE Lancaster.................7.25 inches

Here are some of the highest wind gusts observed from
Hurricane Florence:

Shaw AFB..........................54 mph
McEntire ANG......................47 mph
Sumter Municipal Field............47 mph
Camden-Woodward Field.............45 mph
Lake Thurmond Dam.................45 mph
Fairfield County Arpt Winnsboro...44 mph
Santee Cooper Airport.............44 mph
Newberry County Airport...........43 mph
Orangeburg County Airport.........40 mph
Augusta Bush Field................39 mph
Columbia Metro Airport............39 mph
Augusta Daniel Field..............39 mph


...Augusta Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for August
was 81.4 degrees or 0.9 degrees above the normal of 80.5 degrees.

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for September
was 81.4 degrees or 6.8 degrees above the normal of 74.6 degrees.

...Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for August was
82.8 degrees or 2.0 degrees above the normal of 80.8 degrees.

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for September was
81.9 degrees or 7.2 degrees above the normal of 74.7 degrees.

...Orangeburg Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at the Orangeburg County Airport for August
was 80.5 degrees or 0.3 degrees above the normal of 80.2 degrees.

The average temperature at the Orangeburg County Airport for
September was 80.0 degrees or 5.1 degrees above the normal of 74.9
degrees.


...Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 4.28 inches of rainfall during August.
Normal is 4.32 inches.

Augusta Bush Field received 7.19 inches of rainfall during
September. Normal is 3.22 inches.

...Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 3.25 inches of rainfall during
August. Normal is 5.26 inches.

Columbia Metro Airport received 6.09 inches of rainfall during
September. Normal is 3.54 inches

...Orangeburg Rainfall...

Orangeburg County Airport received 1.18 inches of rainfall during
August. Normal is 5.28 inches.

Orangeburg County Airport received 5.46 inches of rainfall during
September. Normal is 3.79 inches.


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

SC-LX-22 Lexington 5.9 NW.........6.57 inches
SC-RC-12 Columbia 6.7 N...........6.48 inches
SC-SM-1  Sumter 1.3 SE............6.48 inches
SC-RC-9  Columbia 6.8 NNE.........6.34 inches
SC-OR-35 North 5.1 NE.............5.80 inches

GA-RC-9  W. Augusta 0.9 NW........6.61 inches
GA-BK-9  S. Augusta 4.1 S.........4.96 inches
GA-CU-6  Martinez 0.9 NW..........4.84 inches
GA-LC-2  Tignall 10.2 NE..........4.16 inches
GA-MD-5  Thomson 2.6 S............3.97 inches

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

SC-CF-8  Cheraw 1.2 ESE...........24.36 inches
SC-SM-20 Sumter 3.6 SSW...........10.95 inches
SC-AK-75 Graniteville 1.2 NE.......9.74 inches
SC-RC-30 Hopkins 3.9 NNE...........9.74 inches
SC-KR-4  Camden 6.6 NE.............9.61 inches

GA-BK-9  S. Augusta 4.1 S..........6.81 inches
GA-RC-9  W. Augusta 0.9 NW.........6.59 inches
GA-CU-6  Martinez 0.9 NW...........5.38 inches
GA-CU-7  Grovetown 3.4 NE..........5.14 inches
GA-BK-10 Waynesboro 5.3 SE.........4.59 inches


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

LIMS1 Little Mountain.............6.58 inches
NRTS1 North 5 NE..................6.07 inches
GNTS1 Graniteville 1.2 NE.........5.80 inches
SAHS1 Sandhill Research...........5.29 inches
SMRS1 Sumter......................5.09 inches

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

CEWS1 Cheraw Water Plant.........23.98 inches
CTFS1 Chesterfield 3 E...........18.58 inches
LNTS1 Longtown...................10.16 inches
GNTS1 Graniteville 1.2 NE.........9.71 inches


Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during August:

Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........42 mph on the 7th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............39 mph on the 7th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...38 mph on the 19th
Orangeburg County Airport (CUB).......36 mph on the 13th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............36 mph on the 9th

Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during September:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......40 mph on the 14th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........39 mph on the 15th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............39 mph on the 15th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............39 mph on the 15th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...32 mph on the 15th


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during August:

Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...45 mph on the 5th
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............40 mph on the 9th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............33 mph on the 4th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......27 mph on the 12th

Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during September:

Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............45 mph on the 15th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............44 mph on the 15th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......37 mph on the 15th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...31 mph on the 11th and 12th


Lake Murray Water Temperatures at The Towers for August:

Warmest...88.3 degrees on August 12th
Coolest...82.8 degrees on August 25th

Lake Murray Water Temperatures at the Towers for September:

Warmest...86.2 degrees on September 11th
Coolest...79.9 degrees on September 25th


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

Augusta...
None

COLUMBIA...
None

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

Augusta...The 11th, a record daily maximum rainfall set as 2.32
inches of rain fell. The previous record was 0.99 inches set in 1973.

Columbia... None


Events for August and September 2018...

August:

August 8th...An upper level disturbance and surface trough combined
to produce a band of scattered thunderstorms. Strong to severe
storms developed and moved through the region during the evening
hours. The storms downed trees and large limbs across Chesterfield,
Lancaster, Kershaw, Newberry and Columbia counties. There were also
a couple of reports of small hail in Chesterfield and Kershaw
counties.

August 9th...An upper level weather disturbance combined with
daytime heating produced scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.
The storms downed trees and large limbs across Newberry, Aiken,
Richland and Columbia counties.

September:

September 10th...Scattered thunderstorms developed in a moist and
unstable environment. A few of these storms reached severe limits
and produced wind damage along with some locally heavy rainfall
during the afternoon and evening. Trees and limbs were downed in
Kershaw and Edgefield counties. Heavy rainfall produced flash
flooding in Aiken county. Flooded roadways and high water in the the
town of Graniteville produced the rescue of a person from a vehicle
and another from a home. The NWS Coop Observer in Graniteville
recorded 5.98 inches of rainfall. Most of the rainfall, 4.58 inches
fell in a 2 hour period during the evening. A public observer in
North Augusta measured 2.95 inches of rainfall.

September 14-16th...Hurricane Florence began as an area of disturbed
weather that moved west off the African coast around August 29-30th.
It gradually developed into a tropical cyclone on August 31st, while
just south of the Cape Verde Islands. The cyclone continued to move
to the west-northwest across the Atlantic Ocean in the ensuing two
weeks, undergoing fluctuations in intensity. The cyclone reorganized
and strengthened into a category 4 hurricane on Monday September
10th while centered around 1200 miles southeast of the coast of the
Carolinas. High pressure located north of the cyclone steered the
hurricane to the northwest. After undergoing some weakening due to
some upper level wind shear, Florence made landfall as a category 1
hurricane on the southern coast of North Carolina near Wilmington
Friday morning September 14th. The center of the cyclone then moved
slowly west across eastern and central South Carolina while
weakening into a Tropical Storm through Saturday night September
15th. Florence weakened into a tropical depression Sunday morning
September 16th and began to turn to the north and accelerate, moving
across the Upstate of South Carolina and western North Carolina
through sunday night.

The strongest wind gust in the Midlands was 54 mph at Shaw AFB near
Sumter on the night of Friday September 14th. Reports of trees and
power lines were received across the central and eastern Midlands
due to strong wind gusts.

The greatest impact on the region from Florence was flooding due to
very heavy rainfall. Rain began late in the day on the 14th and
continued through the early morning hours of the 17th. The heaviest
rain occurred on the north and east side of Florence, across much of
North Carolina as well as the Pee Dee of South Carolina. The
greatest total rainfall amount in the Midlands was 22.58 inches at
the NWS Cooperative Observer at the Cheraw Water Plant. Major
flooding was reported in Chesterfield County, were numerous roads
and bridges were flooded and washed out. Significant flooding also
occurred in Lancaster County.

The Great Pee Dee River at Cheraw experienced major flooding,
peaking at 46.6 feet (Flood Stage is 30.0 feet) on Tuesday morning
of September 18th. This was the 3rd highest crest on record at that
location, and the highest crest since 1945.



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
AUG       92.9/+2.2      72.7/+1.7      82.8      80.8    +2.0
SEP       91.2/+6.0      72.6/+8.4      81.9      74.7    +7.2


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
AUG       92.4/+0.6      70.4/+1.1     81.4       80.5    +0.9
SEP       92.4/+5.7      70.4/+7.8     81.4       74.6    +6.8



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
AUG            3.25     5.26    -2.01
SEP            6.09     3.54    +2.55


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
AUG            4.28     4.32     -0.04
SEP            7.19     3.22     +3.97


The 3-Month Outlook for Fall/Winter
(October/November/December)...

The outlook calls for a 33 to 40 percent chance of above normal
temperatures along with a 33 to 40 percent chance for above 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 above average across most of
the Pacific Ocean. El Nino is favored to form in the next couple of
months and continue through the Northern Hemisphere Winter 2018-19.
There is a 70-75 percent chance of this occurrence.

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