Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
130 PM EDT Thu Sep 12 2019
...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...
...Climate Summary for July and August...
...Dry Conditions During July Improved Some In August...
...Temperatures Continue Above Normal...
...Downburst Wind Event July 31st near Cope SC...
...Downburst Wind Event August 17th in Newberry SC...
...Hurricane Dorian On The Horizon...
The months of July and August across the Midlands and Central
Savannah River Area continued to be warmer than normal. Temperatures
averaged from 1 to 2 degrees above normal. Precipitation varied
across the region during both months. However, overall the month of
July trended much drier across the region. Some relief arrived in
August with some areas receiving much above normal rainfall.
However, some areas once again received just an inch or two for the
month.
There were several events that produced strong to severe
thunderstorms. These events were scattered throughout the two months
due to the typical summertime convective activity of afternoon and
evening showers and thunderstorms. One event produced a strong
downburst event in Orangeburg County near the town of Cope on July
31st. Winds were estimated to have ranged between 85 to 95 mph. A
second event produced a downburst in Newberry County within the town
of Newberry on August 17th. Winds were estimated to have ranged
between 85 to 95 mph.
.Augusta Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for July was
83.7 degrees or 2.1 degrees above the normal of 81.6 degrees.
The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for August
was 82.6 degrees or 2.1 degrees above the normal of 80.5 degrees
.Columbia Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for July was 82.7
degrees or 0.5 degrees above the normal of 82.2 degrees.
The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for August was
82.3 degrees or 1.5 degrees above the normal of 80.8 degrees.
.Augusta Rainfall...
Augusta Bush Field received 1.39 inches of rainfall during July,
2.94 inches below the normal of 4.33 inches.
Augusta Bush Field received 12.92 inches of rainfall during August,
8.60 inches above the normal of 4.32 inches. It was the wettest
August on record for Augusta.
Here are the top 5 wettest August years on record:
1. 2019 - 12.92 inches
2. 1915 - 12.53 inches
3. 2012 - 12.28 inches
4. 1986 - 11.34 inches
5. 1897 - 10.39 inches
.Columbia Rainfall...
Columbia Metro Airport received 4.50 inches of rainfall during July,
0.96 inches below the normal of 5.46 inches.
Columbia Metro Airport received 1.40 inches of rainfall during
August, 3.86 inches below the normal of 5.26 inches
Here are some of the highest/lowest official NWS Coop Observer
monthly rainfall totals for July 2019:
NRTS1 North 5 NE..............8.21 inches
SMRS1 Sumter..................6.32 inches
CTFS1 Chesterfield 3 E........6.22 inches
CHDS1 Clarks Hill.............1.46 inches
*5th driest July on record from 1952-2019
LNCG2 Lincolnton 4.4 S........1.61 inches
BNLS1 Barnwell 5 NE...........1.72 inches
Here are some of the highest/lowest official NWS Coop Observer
monthly rainfall totals for August 2019:
NWYS1 Newberry WKDK...........12.54 inches
*3rd wettest August on record from 1893-2019
CHPS1 Lake Greenwood..........10.29 inches
SADS1 Saluda Water Plant.......8.64 inches
HHLS1 Holly Hill 1 SW..........0.96 inches
LUGS1 Lugoff 2 NE..............2.45 inches
ORBS1 Orangeburg 2.............2.55 inches
Here are some of the highest/lowest CoCoRaHS monthly rainfall totals
for July 2019:
South Carolina...
SC-SM-13 Sumter 0.2 NE......7.95 inches
SC-LX-49 Chapin 1.3 SSE.....7.71 inches
SC-LX-35 Lexington 2.9 NE...7.15 inches
SC-BM-6 Ehrhardt 0.25 SE...0.88 inches
SC-RC-62 Columbia 7.4 N.....1.18 inches
SC-AK-51 Aiken 8.6 SE.......1.36 inches
Georgia...
GA-LC-2 Tignall 10.2 NE....4.68 inches
GA-MD-1 Thomson 2.5 S......4.68 inches
GA-MD-5 Thomson 2.5 S......4.19 inches
GA-BK-10 Waynesboro 5.3 SE..1.80 inches
GA-CU-6 Martinez 0.9 NW....1.89 inches
GA-BK-1 Waynesboro 3.3 SW..1.90 inches
Here are some of the highest/lowest CoCoRaHS monthly rainfall totals
for August 2019:
South Carolina...
SC-NW-13 Newberry 1.0 N......11.75 inches
SC-MC-5 McCormick 2.3 W.....10.18 inches
SC-AK-71 N. Augusta 3.5 ENE...9.15 inches
SC-RC-71 Forest Acres 0.7 NE..1.16 inches
SC-LX-137 Lexington 5.3 E......1.36 inches
SC-OR-41 Elloree 2.2 WSW......1.58 inches
Georgia...
GA-CU-3 Evans 2.1 NNW.......10.30 inches
GA-BK-9 S. Augusta 4.1 S.....8.30 inches
GA-MD-1 Thomson 2.5 S........6.85 inches
Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites during July:
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........48 mph on the 18th
Augusta Regional Bush Field (AGS).....45 mph on the 18th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......42 mph on the 18th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............35 mph on the 11th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...33 mph on the 23rd
Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites During August:
Augusta Regional Bush Field (AGS).....44 mph on the 23rd
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......37 mph on the 14th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...33 mph on the 22nd
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............30 mph on the 17th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........30 mph on the 22nd
Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during July:
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............38 mph on the 18th and 22nd
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............38 mph on the 22nd
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...36 mph on the 18th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......32 mph on the 19th
Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during August:
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...34 mph on the 24th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............33 mph on the 13th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......25 mph on the 23rd
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............24 mph on the 14th
Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at The Towers
for July:
Warmest...89.6F on the 17th
Coolest...81.0F on the 9th
Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at The Towers
for August:
Warmest...88.5F on the 18th and 19th
Coolest...81.7F on the 30th
Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the months
of July and August:
Columbia...
July:
None
August:
13th...78 degrees, this tied the highest minimum temperature
for the date set in 2010.
14th...79 degrees, this tied the highest minimum temperature for the
date set in 1925.
Augusta...
July:
27th...62 degrees, this tied the record low temperature for the date
set in 1911.
August:
14th...1.93 inches of rain fell. This broke the daily rainfall record
of 1.68 inches set back in 1952.
19th...2.33 inches of rain fell. This broke the daily rainfall record
of 2.17 inches set back in 1932.
23rd...3.20 inches of rain fell. This broke the daily rainfall record
of 1.27 inches set back in 1874.
Events...
July 25th...
Cool and dry high pressure settled over the Midlands and
Central Savannah River area during the end of July. This brought a
welcome break from the summer heat. Morning lows fell into the upper
50s to lower 60s across much of the area. Here are a few reports from
the morning of the 25th.
...LOW TEMPERATURE REPORTS...
Here are low temperature reports from this morning around the
Midlands of south Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area of
Georgia.
Location Temp
2 ESE Saluda 57 F
Saluda 58 F
Cedar Crk 59 F
Graniteville 59 F
Peak 60 F
Fort Mill 61 F
Lexington 61 F
Newberry 61 F
Lancaster 61 F
Long Cane 61 F
Lincolnton 61 F
Gilbert 62 F
Appling 62 F
Savriv 62 F
Newberry 62 F
Saluda 62 F
Mccrady Training Center 62 F
Springfield 63 F
Ridgeway 63 F
North Augusta 63 F
West Columbia 63 F
July 31st...
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across the eastern Midlands during
the afternoon. One storm produced extensive tree damage near the town
of Cope in Orangeburg County. Here is the damage survey for the event.
...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 07/31/19 THUNDERSTORM WIND EVENT...
.Downburst Near Cope in Orangeburg County, SC...
Location...2 NNW of Cope in Orangeburg County, SC Date...July 31, 2019
Estimated Time...319 PM EDT Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85-95 mph
Maximum Path Width...500 yards Path Length...0.6 miles Beginning
Lat/Lon...33.4009/-81.0319 Ending Lat/Lon...33.3956/-81.0277
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
...Summary... A National Weather Service Damage Assessment Team
determined that a downburst produced straight-line wind damage just
south of the intersection of Binnicker Bridge Road and Early Morning
Road, east of Roberts Swamp. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted
with a damage path length over 0.6 miles and path width of
approximately 500 yards. In addition, panels were lifted off the corner
of a metal roof and a small fiberglass boat was tossed over 30 yards
before crashing into a wood post.
August 17th...
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across the western western
Midlands. One of these storms produced a downburst in the town of
Newberry. There was extensive tree damage, damage to power lines
and several limbs and trees on home. Here is the damage survey
for the event.
...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 08/17/19 THUNDERSTORM WIND EVENT...
.Downburst City of Newberry in Newberry County, SC...
Location...City of Newberry in Newberry County, SC Date...August 17,
2019 Estimated Time...839 PM EDT Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85-
95 mph Maximum Path Width...1000 yards Path Length...3.5 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...34.3124/-81.6319 Ending Lat/Lon...34.2632/-
81.6105
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0
...Summary... A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team on Monday
determined that a downburst produced straight-line wind damage
within the city limits of Newberry. The severe thunderstorm downed
trees and power lines from Whitmire south-southeast through Newberry
and Prosperity all the way to Lake Murray. However, much of the
damage was concentrated in the City of Newberry. The most extensive
damage occurred from near the intersection of Airport Road and
Highway 76 and continued south-southeast to McSwain and Mollohan
Parks. There were numerous large hardwood trees that were uprooted
along with a few hardwood and softwood trees that were snapped. Some
of the largest oak trees were estimated to be from 75 to 150 years
old. There were also numerous large limbs down across the city. Many
of the trees fell on power lines, damaging street lighting and
traffic signals. Several trees and large branches fell on homes and
cars. A family was trapped in their home near the intersection of
Langford Mill Road and Boundary Street when a tree fell on their
home. An elderly woman was trapped in her home along Bush River Road
when a tree fell on her home. Damage occurred in McSwain Park and
Mollohon Park due to trees that fell on playfield equipment. The
damage path length was around 3.5 miles and a path width of
approximately 1000 yards.
August 20th...
Slow moving showers and thunderstorms produced locally heavy
rainfall across McCormick, Edgefield and Saluda Counties. Rainfall
amounts ranged from 2 to 5 inches.
Here are some of the highest rainfall totals from the area:
Location Amount Time/Date Provider
Saluda DOT Raingage 5.30 in 1000 AM 08/21 HADS
McCormick 2.3 W 5.15 in 0800 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Saluda 0.6 NNE 5.03 in 0633 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Long Cane 4.05 in 0912 AM 08/21 RAWS
Saluda 4.05 in 0800 AM 08/21 COOP
McCormick 0.5 NW 3.93 in 0652 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Saluda 3.81 in 1005 AM 08/21 CWOP
Fort Mill 3.38 in 1001 AM 08/21 CWOP
Fort Mill 3.5 ENE 3.10 in 0900 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Saluda 3.5 ENE 2.96 in 0700 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Saluda 6.1 SW 2.73 in 0700 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Indian Land 4.7 S 2.72 in 0800 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Lake Greenwood 2.60 in 0800 AM 08/21 COOP
Chappells Tailrace USGS 2.56 in 0800 AM 08/21 HADS
Newberry 1.0 N 2.55 in 0700 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
2 ESE Saluda 2.53 in 1005 AM 08/21 AWS
Newberry 2.9 S 2.25 in 0700 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Camden 6.4 SE 2.03 in 0800 AM 08/21 COCORAHS
Newberry Raingage 2.02 in 1000 AM 08/21 HADS
August 30...
Canadian high pressure brought some drier and cooler co conditions to
the region. Morning low temperatures fell into the lower to middle 50s.
Here are some of the morning low temperatures from the 30th...
Location Temp Time/Date Provider
Graniteville 52 F 0647 AM 08/30 COOP
McBee 53 F 0700 AM 08/30 CWOP
Cedar Creek 53 F 0800 AM 08/30 COOP
Hopkins 54 F 0700 AM 08/30 RCWINDS
SCEMD Pine Ridge 54 F 0700 AM 08/30 RCWINDS
McCrady Training Center 54 F 0733 AM 08/30 RAWS
Aiken Municipal Airport 55 F 0555 AM 08/30 AWOS
Gadsden 55 F 0700 AM 08/30 RCWINDS
Lancaster 55 F 0655 AM 08/30 AWOS
McEntire JNGB 55 F 0700 AM 08/30 ASOS
2 ESE Saluda 55 F 0725 AM 08/30 AWS
Swansea 3.5 NE 55 F 0700 AM 08/30 COOP
Springfield 56 F 0745 AM 08/30 CWOP
Red Bank area 56 F 0734 AM 08/30 CWOP
Saluda 56 F 0750 AM 08/30 CWOP
Gilbert 56 F 0717 AM 08/30 CWOP
Lincolnton 56 F 0800 AM 08/30 COOP
Lexington 56 F 0745 AM 08/30 CWOP
Mcentire Ang 56 F 0656 AM 08/30 AWOS
1 S Pelion 56 F 0719 AM 08/30 AWS
Pinewood 56 F 0700 AM 08/30 CWOP
Savriv 56 F 0707 AM 08/30 RAWS
Wedgefield 56 F 0700 AM 08/30 CWOP
Congaree NP 57 F 0747 AM 08/30 RAWS
Cheraw 57 F 0655 AM 08/30 AWOS
Lake Greenwood 57 F 0800 AM 08/30 COOP
Lake Wateree 57 F 0650 AM 08/30 NDBC
North 5 NE 57 F 0700 AM 08/30 COOP
North Aux 57 F 0456 AM 08/30 AWOS
Orangeburg 57 F 0746 AM 08/30 CWOP
Saluda Water Plant 57 F 0800 AM 08/30 COOP
Sumter Municipal Airport 57 F 0715 AM 08/30 AWOS
Wagener 57 F 0700 AM 08/30 COOP
West Columbia 57 F 0731 AM 08/30 CWOP
Winnsboro 57 F 0655 AM 08/30 AWOS
Barnwell 58 F 0700 AM 08/30 COOP
Columbia Metro Airport 58 F 0656 AM 08/30 ASOS
YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
AVG HIGH/DEP AVG LOW/DEP AVG TEMP NORM DEPARTURE
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
OCT 79.6/+3.5 57.5/+5.4 68.5 64.1 +4.4
NOV 62.3/-5.0 43.2/+0.9 52.8 54.8 -2.0
DEC 58.5/+0.3 39.2/+3.9 48.8 46.7 +2.1
Annual 77.1/+1.6 55.7/+3.3 66.4 63.9 +2.5
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
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
AVG HIGH/DEP AVG LOW/DEP AVG TEMP NORM DEPARTURE
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
OCT 80.6/+2.9 56.7/+4.3 68.7 64.4 +4.3
NOV 64.3/-4.8 43.3/+1.9 53.8 55.2 -1.4
DEC 61.1/+1.1 40.5/+6.0 50.8 47.2 +3.6
Annual 77.7/+0.8 53.9/+2.9 65.8 63.9 +1.9
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
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY
PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE
(INCHES)
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
OCT 6.36 3.17 +3.22
NOV 6.55 2.74 +3.81
DEC 7.25 3.22 +4.03
Annual 49.52 44.59 +4.93
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
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE
(INCHES)
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
OCT 4.58 3.27 +1.31
NOV 5.98 2.82 +3.16
DEC 5.94 3.39 +2.55
Annual 54.84 43.57 +11.27
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
The 3-Month Outlook for Fall
(September/October/November)...
The outlook calls for a 33 to 40 percent chance of above normal
rainfall along with a 50 percent chance of above normal temperatures.
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)...
ENSO-neutral conditions are present.
Equatorial sea surface temperatures are above average across the
western Pacific Ocean and are below average across the eastern Pacific
Ocean.
ENSO-neutral conditions is most likely to continue through the Northern
Hemisphere winter 2019-20. There is a 50 to 55 percent chance of these
conditions continuing into the winter season.
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 .
$$
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