August 2014 Climate Summary

TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THE MONTH.  
   
PRECIPITATION QUITE VARIABLE FOR THE MONTH.  
   
TWO FLOODING EVENTS ALONG ROCKY BRANCH CREEK IN COLUMBIA.  
  
MINOR FLOODING ALONG THE CONGAREE RIVER AT CAROLINA EASTMAN ON THE 3RD.  
  
TEMPERATURES DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST AVERAGED SLIGHTLY ABOVE   
NORMAL. HOWEVER...RAINFALL ACROSS THE MIDLANDS AND CENTRAL SAVANNAH   
RIVER AREA WAS EXTREMELY VARIABLE DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION. DUE TO   
THE CONVECTIVE NATURE AND INCONSISTENT RAINFALL DURING THE   
MONTH...THOSE WHO FARM AND GARDEN DID NOT RECEIVE THE CONSISTENT   
RAINFALL THEY NEEDED. THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS   
ACROSS THE AREA AND TWO FLOODING EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA ALONG   
ROCKY BRANCH CREEK.   
  
ALTHOUGH NOT IN THE TOP 10 OF ANY CATEGORY...THERE WERE A COUPLE OF   
INTERESTING FACTS FOR THE MONTH. IT WAS THE 13TH DRIEST AUGUST ON   
RECORD AT AUGUSTA. IT WAS THE 19TH WARMEST AUGUST ON RECORD AT   
COLUMBIA. NOT ALL THAT EXTREME...BUT JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF   
THE VARIABILITY IN TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION.   
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AT AUGUSTA REGIONAL BUSH FIELD WAS 79.7   
DEGREES OR 0.8 DEGREES BELOW THE NORMAL OF 80.5 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE   
TEMPERATURE AT COLUMBIA METRO AIRPORT WAS 82.0 DEGREES OR 1.2   
DEGREES ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 80.8 DEGREES.   
  
RAINFALL AVERAGED 2 TO 4 INCHES ACROSS THE MIDLANDS AND CENTRAL   
SAVANNAH RIVER AREA OF GEORGIA DURING THE MONTH. THE DRIEST AREA WAS   
ACROSS THE WESTERN MIDLANDS AND PIEDMONT OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THIS   
INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF SALUDA AND NEWBERRY. SOME OF THESE   
LOCATIONS ONLY RECEIVED BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL. THE   
AREAS THAT SAW THE MOST RAINFALL WERE ACROSS BURKE COUNTY GEORGIA   
ALONG WITH FAIRFIELD...KERSHAW AND LEE COUNTIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.   
SOME OF THESE AREAS RECEIVED OVER 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL.    
  
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST COCORAHS RAINFALL REPORTS FOR AUGUST:   
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE RAIN HAIL AND SNOW NETWORK (WWW.COCORAHS.ORG).  
  
SC-CD-2  MANNING 8.2 S..................9.28 INCHES  
SC-KR-9  ELGIN 1.2 SW...................9.55 INCHES  
SC-KR-8  CAMDEN 4.2 ENE.................8.18 INCHES  
SC-KR-16 ELGIN 1.9 NE...................7.95 INCHES  
SC-KR-4  CAMDEN 6.6 NE..................7.02 INCHES  
  
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NWS COOP OBSERVER REPORTS FOR AUGUST:  
  
WNBS1 WINNSBORO.................6.37 INCHES  
LUGS1 LUGOFF 2NE................5.58 INCHES  
SAHS1 SANDHILLS RESEARCH CTR....5.47 INCHES  
USCS1 COLUMBIA UNIV. OF SC......5.17 INCHES  
ORBS1 ORANGEBURG 2..............4.87 INCHES  
  
HIGHEST WIND GUSTS AT EACH ASOS LOCATION DURING THE MONTH:  
  
HAMILTON OWENS AIRPORT (CUB)......60 MPH ON THE 8TH  
COLUMBIA METRO AIRPORT (CAE)......38 MPH ON THE 8TH  
AUGUSTA BUSH FIELD (AGS)..........36 MPH ON THE 31ST  
AUGUSTA DANIEL FIELD (DNL)........33 MPH ON THE 12TH  
ORANGEBURG COUNTY AIRPORT (OGB)...28 MPH ON THE 18TH  
  
HIGHEST WIND GUSTS AT EACH LAKE OBSERVING SITE DURING THE MONTH:  
  
LAKE THURMOND DAM (CHDS1)...............44 MPH ON THE 8TH  
WATEREE DAM (WATS1).....................37 MPH ON THE 31ST  
LAKE MURRAY TOWERS (IRMS1)..............32 MPH ON THE 12TH  
FLOTILLA ISLAND (LMFS1).................31 MPH ON THE 9TH  
   
  
RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH AT AUGUSTA:   
ON THE 2ND...SET A NEW RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE.   
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 78 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 80   
DEGREES SET IN 1977.    
  
ON THE 28TH...SET A NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE FOR THE DATE. THE   
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS 56 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 59   
DEGREES SET IN 1969...1968...1944 AND 1927.     
  
RECORDS TIED OR BROKEN DURING THE MONTH AT COLUMBIA:   
ON THE 31ST...TIED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 76 DEGREES   
SET IN 2014 AND 2001.   
  
EVENTS FOR AUGUST 2014:  
  
AUGUST 3RD...HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE UPSTATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA   
COMBINED WITH AREA RESERVOIR RELEASES PRODUCED RISES ALONG THE   
CONGAREE RIVER RESULTING IN SOME MINOR FLOODING. THE RIVER GAGE AT   
CAROLINA EASTMAN CRESTED AT 115.0 FEET. FLOOD STAGE IS ALSO 115.0   
FEET. SOME MINOR FLOODING FLOODING OCCURRED ALONG THE CAYCE AND WEST   
COLUMBIA RIVERWALK AS THE CONGAREE RIVER REACHED 10.1 FEET. ADVISORY   
STAGE FOR THIS STRETCH OF THE CONGAREE RIVER IS 10.0 FEET. FLOOD   
STAGE IS 19.0 FEET. AT LEVELS OF 10.0 FEET AND ABOVE SOME MINOR   
FLOODING OCCURS ALONG THE RIVERWALK AREA.   
  
AUGUST 8TH...STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WIND DAMAGE AND   
LARGE HAIL ACROSS THE MIDLANDS AND CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA.   
THERE WERE REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TREES DOWN IN COLUMBIA AND MCDUFFIE   
COUNTIES IN GEORGIA AS WELL AS MCCORMICK COUNTY. ONE INCH HAIL WAS   
REPORTED IN RICHLAND COUNTY. STRONG WINDS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE   
STORMS. THE STORMS ALSO PRODUCED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.  
  
HERE ARE A FEW WIND REPORTS FROM THE EVENT:  
PUBLIC REPORT IN LEXINGTON COUNTY.........64 MPH  
HAMILTON OWENS AIRPORT COLUMBIA (CUB).....60 MPH  
HEADQUARTERS (RCWINDS)....................38 MPH  
WILLIAMS BRICE STADIUM (RCWINDS)..........36 MPH  
  
HERE ARE A FEW RAINFALL REPORTS FROM THE EVENT:  
PUBLIC REPORT LEXINGTON COUNTY............2.82 INCHES  
DETENTION CENTER (RCWINDS)................2.68 INCHES  
PINE VIEW-GARNERS FERRY (RCWINDS).........1.65 INCHES  
  
AUGUST 9TH...SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER   
DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA THAT PRODUCED RAPID RISES ALONG ROCKY BRANCH   
CREEK. AT THE USC RAIN GAGE...2.28 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. BETWEEN 855   
PM AND 925 PM...JUST 30 MINUTES...2.00 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. THIS   
PRODUCED UP TO 4 FEET OF WATER ACROSS WHALEY STREET AT THE TRAIN   
TRESTLE NEAR MAIN STREET. A CAR STALLED IN THE WATER WHICH WAS   
EVENTUALLY COVERED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES...FOUR   
PEOPLE HAD TO BE RESCUED FROM THE VEHICLE. ROCKY BRANCH CREEK AT   
PICKENS AND BLOSSOM STREET CRESTED AT 9.19 FEET 930 PM...FLOOD STAGE   
IS 7.2 FEET. AT WHALEY AND MAIN STREETS...THE CREEK CRESTED AT 10.36   
FEET AT 945 PM...FLOOD STAGE IS ALSO 7.2 FEET.   
  
AUGUST 8TH-10TH...SLOW MOVING STORMS PRODUCED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL   
ACROSS THE COLUMBIA AREA. HERE ARE SOME 3 DAY RAINFALL TOTALS FROM   
THE RICHLAND COUNTY MESONET (RCWINDS):  
  
DETENTION CENTER.............5.83 INCHES  
PINE VIEW-GARNERS FERRY......3.77 INCHES  
WILLIAMS BRICE STADIUM.......3.23 INCHES  
GADSDEN......................2.83 INCHES  
MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK......2.48 INCHES  
  
AUGUST 12TH...SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN PRODUCED LOCALLY   
HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE COLUMBIA METRO AREA. THIS PRODUCED   
LOCALIZED FLOODING IN PARTS OF RICHLAND COUNTY. AT ELDERS POND   
(RCWINDS) SITE...3.07 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN ABOUT 1 HOUR. AT SPRING   
VALLEY H.S. (RCWINDS) SITE...2.45 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN JUST OVER   
AN HOUR.   
  
AUGUST 18TH...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DOWNED TREES AND POWER   
LINES IN THE BATESBURG-LEESVILLE AREA.   
  
AUGUST 20TH...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED NICKEL TO   
QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN MCDUFFIE COUNTY.   
  
AUGUST 27-28TH...THE COOLEST AIR OF THE LATE SUMMER SEASON ARRIVED   
AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILT SOUTHWARD FROM NEW ENGLAND. HERE ARE SOME OF   
THE LOW TEMPERATURES:  
  
MORNING OF AUGUST 27TH...  
CEDAR CREEK (BLYS1).................55 DEGREES  
LANDFILL (RCWINDS)..................57 DEGREES  
HWY 601-LEESBURG (RCWINDS)..........58 DEGREES  
UPPER RICHLAND (RCWINDS)............58 DEGREES  
BEAR CREEK (RCWINDS)................59 DEGREES  
DUTCH FORK (RCWINDS)................59 DEGREES  
SPRINGHILL (RCWINDS)................59 DEGREES  
BISHOPVILLE (BSPS1).................59 DEGREES  
LONGTOWN (LNTS1)....................59 DEGREES  
LITTLE MOUNTAIN (LIMS1).............59 DEGREES  
SALUDA FILTER PLANT (SADS1).........59 DEGREES  
AUGUSTA BUSH FIELD (AGS)............59 DEGREES  
  
MORNING OF AUGUST 28TH...  
BATESBURG (BATS1)...................52 DEGREES  
CEDAR CREEK (BLYS1).................55 DEGREES  
PELION (PLNS1)......................55 DEGREES  
AUGUSTA BUSH FIELD (AGS)............56 DEGREES (RECORD)  
SALUDA FILTER PLANT (SADS1).........56 DEGREES  
LUGOFF 2 NE (LUGS1).................58 DEGREES  
JOHNSTON (JOHS1)....................58 DEGREES  
LAKE WATEREE (WATS1)................59 DEGREES  
MCENTIRE ANG (MMT)..................59 DEGREES  
NEWBERRY WKDK (NWYS1)...............59 DEGREES  
BARNWELL (BNLS1)....................59 DEGREES  
CLARKS HILL (CHDS1).................59 DEGREES  
MCCORMICK (MCCS1)...................59 DEGREES  
ORANGEBURG WATER PLNT (ORBS1).......59 DEGREES  
  
AUGUST 31ST...  
EXTREMELY WARM TEMPERATURES THAT APPROACHED 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE   
AREA COMBINED WITH AN EXTREMELY MOIST AIRMASS PRODUCED THUNDERSTORMS   
WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. ONCE AGAIN...HEAVY RAIN FELL ACROSS   
DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA AND FLOODING OCCURRED ALONG ROCKY BRANCH CREEK. AT   
THE USC RAIN GAGE...1.77 INCHES OF RAIN FELL BETWEEN 430 PM AND   
540PM. ROCKY BRANCH CREEK AT PICKENS AND BLOSSOM STREET CRESTED AT   
9.07 FEET AT 530 PM. FLOOD STAGE IS 7.2 FEET. AT WHALEY AND MAIN   
STREETS THE CREEK CRESTED TO 9.89 FEET AT 546 PM. FLOOD STAGE IS 7.2   
FEET.   
  
YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS  
  
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2013/2014 MONTHLY AVERAGE   
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...  
  
          AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP   NORM  DEPARTURE   
JAN 2013  64.0/+8.0      41.1/+7.4      52.5      44.8    +7.7  
FEB       59.2/-1.1      36.2/-0.6      47.7      48.5    -0.8  
MAR       63.5/-4.7      38.5/-4.5      51.0      55.6    -4.6   
APR       76.7/+0.4      53.4/+3.0      65.0      63.4    +1.6   
MAY       81.4/-2.4      59.2/-0.3      70.3      71.7    -1.4  
JUN       88.1/-1.9      70.1/+1.9      79.1      79.1     0.0  
JUL       88.4/-4.3      72.7/+1.1      80.5      82.2    -1.7   
AUG       87.6/-3.1      71.0/ 0.0      79.3      80.8    -1.5      
SEP       86.9/+1.7      65.5/+0.3      76.2      74.7    +1.5   
OCT       77.9/+1.8      54.8/+2.7      66.3      64.1    +2.2  
NOV       65.0/-2.3      40.5/-1.8      52.7      54.8    -2.1    
DEC       62.5/+4.3      40.6/+5.3      51.5      46.7    +4.8        
ANNUAL    75.1/-0.4      53.6/+1.2      64.4      63.9    +0.5  
  
JAN 2014  52.4/-3.6      28.1/-5.6      40.3      44.8    -4.5   
FEB       60.3/ 0.0      37.4/+0.6      48.9      48.5    +0.4  
MAR       65.2/-3.0      39.1/-3.9      52.2      55.6    -3.4  
APR       78.3/+2.0      52.8/+2.4      65.6      63.4    +2.2   
MAY       86.4/+2.6      62.2/+2.7      74.3      71.7    +2.6  
JUN       92.4/+2.4      71.6/+3.4      82.0      79.1    +2.9  
JUL       92.7/ 0.0      73.4/+1.8      83.0      82.2    +0.8  
AUG       92.2/+1.5      71.7/+0.7      82.0      80.8    +1.2   
  
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2013/2014 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND   
DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...  
  
          AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP   NORM  DEPARTURE   
JAN 2013  65.4/+7.5      39.4/+6.6     52.4       45.4    +7.0   
FEB       59.8/-2.5      35.5/-0.4     47.6       49.1    -1.5   
MAR       63.8/-6.1      37.9/-4.1     50.8       55.9    -5.1   
APR       76.2/-1.1      48.5/+0.4     62.4       62.7    -0.3   
MAY       81.0/-4.0      55.8/-1.5     68.4       71.1    -2.7   
JUN       88.2/-2.8      67.4/+1.2     77.8       78.6    -0.8   
JUL       87.9/-5.5      71.0/+1.2     79.5       81.6    -2.1   
AUG       87.7/-4.1      68.6/-0.7     78.2       80.5    -2.3   
SEP       87.2/+0.5      61.8/-0.8     74.5       74.6    -0.1   
OCT       78.4/+0.7      51.9/+0.9     65.2       64.4    +0.8   
NOV       65.9/-3.2      38.7/-2.7     52.3       55.2    -2.9  
DEC       62.5/+2.5      38.0/+3.5     50.3       47.2    +3.1  
ANNUAL    75.3/-1.6      51.2/+0.2     63.3       63.9    -0.6  
  
JAN 2014  52.7/-5.2      26.3/-6.5     39.5       45.4    -5.9   
FEB       61.9/-2.5      34.9/ 0.0     48.4       49.1    -0.7   
MAR       66.1/-3.8      37.6/-4.4     51.9       55.9    -4.0  
APR       77.3/ 0.0      49.1/+1.0     63.2       62.7    +0.5  
MAY       85.3/+0.3      58.0/+0.7     71.6       71.7    +0.5  
JUN       90.7/-0.3      67.2/+1.0     78.9       78.6    +0.3   
JUL       92.2/-1.2      68.4/-1.4     80.3       81.6    -1.3  
AUG       91.7/-0.1      67.6/-1.7     79.7       80.5    -0.8  
  
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2013/2014 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...  
  
               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE    
              (INCHES)   
JAN 2013       1.21     3.58    -2.37  
FEB            5.51     3.61    +1.90  
MAR            3.65     3.73    -0.08  
APR            4.63     2.62    +2.01   
MAY            3.62     2.97    +0.65  
JUN            6.17     4.69    +1.48  
JUL           11.21     5.46    +5.75   
AUG            7.51     5.26    +2.25  
SEP            2.04     3.54    -1.50      
OCT            1.98     3.17    -1.19  
NOV            2.06     2.74    -0.68  
DEC            5.88     3.22    +2.66  
ANNUAL        55.47    44.59   +10.88     
  
JAN 2014       3.40     3.58    -0.18  
FEB            2.92     3.61    -0.69  
MAR            3.93     3.73    +0.20  
APR            2.99     2.62    +0.37  
MAY            5.72     2.97    +2.75  
JUN            1.41     4.69    -3.28  
JUL            2.83     5.46    -2.63  
AUG            4.88     5.26    -0.38  
  
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2013/2014 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION...  
  
               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE    
              (INCHES)    
JAN 2013       0.60     3.91     -3.31  
FEB            9.40     3.92     +5.48   
MAR            3.11     4.18     -1.07  
APR            4.23     2.84     +1.39  
MAY            2.26     2.65     -0.39  
JUN           10.83     4.72     +6.11  
JUL            9.05     4.33     +4.72  
AUG            5.84     4.32     +1.52  
SEP            1.12     3.22     -2.10  
OCT            0.36     3.27     -2.91  
NOV            1.82     2.82     -1.00  
DEC            6.90     3.39     +3.51   
ANNUAL        55.54    43.57    +11.97  
  
JAN 2014       2.48     3.91     -1.43   
FEB            3.73     3.92     -0.19   
MAR            2.56     4.18     -1.62  
APR            4.59     2.84     +1.75  
MAY            5.50     2.65     +2.85  
JUN            2.27     4.72     -2.45  
JUL            5.53     4.33     +1.20  
AUG            1.76     4.32     -2.56  
  
THE OUTLOOK FOR SEPTEMBER.  
  
THE FORECAST CALLS FOR A 40 TO 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF ABOVE NORMAL   
TEMPERATURES AND EQUAL CHANCES THAT PRECIPITATION WILL EITHER BE   
BELOW...ABOVE OR NEAR NORMAL.    
  
THE 3-MONTH OUTLOOK FOR FALL (SEP/OCT/NOV)...  
  
THE FORECAST CALLS FOR A 33 TO 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF ABOVE NORMAL    
TEMPERATURE AND EQUAL CHANCES THAT PRECIPITATION WILL EITHER BE   
BELOW...ABOVE OR NEAR NORMAL FOR THE 3-MONTH PERIOD.   
  
ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...  
...A EL NINO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE LATE SUMMER OR EARLY   
FALL...  
AN EL NINO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE   
DEVELOPMENT OF EL NINO CONDITIONS WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.   
  
AT THIS TIME...ENSO NEUTRAL CONDITIONS CONTINUE ACROSS THE   
EQUATORIAL PACIFIC OCEAN. SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE AVERAGE   
ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND JUST WEST OF THE   
DATE LINE. THE CHANCES OF EL NINO REMAIN ABOUT 65 PERCENT DURING THE   
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE FALL AND EARLY WINTER. ENSO MODELS INDICATE THAT   
EL NINO CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER AND   
CONTINUE INTO EARLY 2015. AT THIS TIME...IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE EL   
NINO THAT DOES DEVELOP WILL BE WEAK.    
  
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 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.