Climate Summary June and July 2023

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
314 PM EDT Aug 23 2023


...Climate Summary for June and July 2023...

...June...

...Temperatures Below Normal Across the Midlands and CSRA...
...Tied for the 6th Coolest May on Record at Augusta...
...Rainfall Above Normal for the Month...
...Multiple Severe Weather and Flash Flood Events...
...River Flooding During the 3rd Week of the Month...

...July...

...Temperatures Close to Normal for July...
...Rainfall Varied Across the Midlands and CSRA...
...Portions of the western and northern Midlands Quite Dry...
...Active Month for Severe Weather and Flash Flooding...

.Columbia SC Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for June
was 76.2 degrees or 2.9 degrees below the monthly normal of
79.1 degrees.

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for July
was 83.0 degrees or 0.6 degrees above the monthly normal of
82.4 degrees.

.Augusta GA Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for June was
75.1 degrees or 4.6 degrees below the monthly normal of 79.7
degrees.

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for July was
81.9 degrees or 0.9 degrees below the monthly normal of 82.8
degrees.


.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 6.12 inches of rainfall during June,
1.15 inches above the monthly normal of 4.97 inches.

Columbia Metro Airport received 5.57 inches of rainfall during
July, 0.22 inches above the monthly normal of 5.35 inches.

.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 6.17 inches of rainfall during June,
1.42 inches above the monthly value of 4.75 inches.

Augusta Bush Field received 7.62 inches of rainfall during July,
3.14 inches above the monthly value of 4.48 inches.


YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2022-2023 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...


         AVG HIGH/DEP  AVG LOW/DEP  AVG TEMP  NORM  DEPARTURE
Jan 2022  55.3/-1.7     32.7/-1.9     44.0    45.7    -1.7
Feb       65.4/+4.6     40.1/+2.8     52.8    49.1    +3.7
Mar       71.6/+3.3     45.7/+2.1     58.6    55.9    +2.7
Apr       76.5/-0.2     49.9/-1.4     63.2    64.1    -0.9
May       85.7/+1.9     63.6/+3.1     74.7    72.2    +2.5
Jun       92.8/+3.1     69.6/+1.0     81.2    79.1    +2.1
Jul       91.5/-1.2     74.0/+2.0     82.7    82.4    +0.3
Aug       88.5/-1.9     71.4/+0.1     80.1    81.0    -0.9
Sep       86.0/+0.3     63.8/-1.5     74.9    75.5    -0.6
Oct       74.5/-2.0     50.2/-2.5     62.4    64.6    -2.2
Nov       67.8/+1.4     47.0/+5.4     57.4    54.0    +3.4
Dec       56.0/-2.9     36.3/-0.2     46.2    47.7    -1.5

Jan 2023  62.1/+5.3     40.5/+5.9     51.3    45.7    +5.6
Feb       68.8/+8.0     44.5/+7.2     56.7    49.1    +7.6
Mar       69.8/+1.5     47.1/+3.5     58.5    55.9    +2.6
Apr       77.3/+0.6     52.3/+0.8     64.8    64.1    +0.7
May       78.9/-4.9     58.8/-1.7     68.9    72.2    -3.3
Jun       86.3/-3.4     66.1/-2.5     76.2    79.1    -2.9
Jul       92.5/-0.2     73.5/+1.5     83.0    82.4    +0.6



AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2022-2023 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND
DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...


         AVG HIGH/DEP  AVG LOW/DEP  AVG TEMP  NORM  DEPARTURE
Jan 2022  58.8/-0.8     32.9/-2.4     45.8    47.4    -1.6
Feb       68.6/+5.1     38.8/+0.7     53.7    50.8    +2.9
Mar       73.2/+2.2     44.5/+0.4     58.8    57.5    +1.3
Apr       77.7/-0.8     46.5/-4.1     62.1    64.6    -2.5
May       86.1/+0.2     60.1/+0.5     73.1    72.7    +0.4
Jun       92.0/+0.7     66.3/-1.8     79.1    79.7    -0.6
Jul       91.8/-2.3     71.6/ 0.0     81.7    82.8    -1.1
Aug       89.5/-3.1     69.9/-1.1     79.7    81.8    -2.1
Sep       85.3/-2.5     61.8/-3.2     73.5    76.4    -2.9
Oct       76.1/-2.9     47.4/-5.7     61.7    66.0    -4.3
Nov       69.1/ 0.0     45.6/+3.4     57.4    55.6    +1.8
Dec       57.7/-3.8     36.3/-1.0     47.0    49.4    -2.4

Jan 2023  62.0/+2.4     37.6/+2.3     49.8    47.4    +2.4
Feb       70.3/+6.8     42.6/+4.5     56.4    50.8    +5.6
Mar       70.5/-0.5     44.4/+0.3     57.5    57.5     0.0
Apr       77.2/-1.3     49.5/-1.1     63.3    64.6    -1.3
May       79.0/-6.9     57.6/-2.0     68.3    72.7    -4.4
Jun       86.9/-4.4     63.2/-4.9     75.1    79.7    -4.6
Jul       92.6/-1.5     71.2/-0.4     81.9    82.8    -0.9


COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2022-2023 MONTHLY/YEARLY
PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL  DEPARTURE  (INCHES)
Jan 2021       4.04     3.49    +0.66
Feb            1.88     3.39    -1.51
Mar            2.05     3.57    -1.52
Apr            6.67     2.83    +2.84
May            2.92     3.49    -0.57
Jun            2.80     4.97    -2.17
Jul            6.39     5.35    +1.04
Aug            4.48     4.65    -0.17
Sep            3.15     3.91    -0.76
Oct            1.04     3.13    -2.09
Nov            3.40     2.76    +0.64
Dec            3.02     3.70    -0.68

YTD Total     40.84    45.24    -4.40

Jan 2023       5.79     3.49    +2.30
Feb            3.50     3.39    +0.11
Mar            4.82     3.57    +1.25
Apr            5.04     2.83    +2.21
May            4.95     3.49    +1.46
Jun            6.12     4.97    +1.15
Jul            5.57     5.35    +0.22

YTD Total     35.79    27.09    +8.70


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2022-2023 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL  DEPARTURE  (INCHES)
Jan 2022       3.61     3.84    -0.11
Feb            1.63     3.67    -2.04
Mar            3.71     4.08    -0.37
Apr            4.90     2.92    +1.98
May            3.80     3.05    +0.75
Jun            3.96     4.75    -0.79
Jul            9.80     4.48    +5.32 *9th wettest July on Record
Aug            5.66     4.61    +1.05
Sep            2.25     3.60    -1.35
Oct            1.84     2.56    -0.72
Nov            3.40     2.76    +0.64
Dec            3.76     3.87    -0.11

YTD Total     47.94    44.09    +3.85

Jan 2023       6.79     3.84    +2.95
Feb            5.08     3.67    +1.41
Mar            4.17     4.08    +0.09
Apr            6.56     2.92    +3.64 *7th wettest April on Record
May            3.51     3.05    +0.46
Jun            6.17     4.75    +1.42
Jul            7.62     4.48    +3.14

YTD Total     39.90    26.79   +13.11



Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the month of
June:

Augusta...

22nd...A daily record rainfall of 3.03 inches was set. This breaks
the previous record of 2.48 inches for this date set back in 2000.


Columbia...

None

Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the month of
July:

Augusta...

None


Columbia...

3rd...A daily record high minimum temperature of 78 was set. This
breaks the previous record of 77 degrees for this date set back in
2016.



Here are some of the highest monthly rainfall totals for
June from our NWS Coop Weather Observers:

Bamberg (BAMS1).................11.54 inches
N. Augusta (NAGS1)...............9.82 inches
Orangeburg Water Plant (ORBS1)...9.62 inches
Batesburg Water Plant (BATS1)....9.35 inches
Manning Water Plant (MANS1)......7.37 inches


Here are some highest monthly rainfall totals for June from
our CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network):

SC-OR-17  Orangeburg 3.2 NW.....15.74 inches
SC-OR-37  Orangeburg 0.4 NNW....10.00 inches
SC-LX-105 Gilbert 6.2 NNW........9.66 inches
SC-SM-10  Sumter 0.3 ENE.........8.85 inches
SC-ED-16  Edgefield 3.3 N.........8.72 inches

GA-RC-18  Martinez 1.3 SE........8.78 inches
GA-BK-9   S. Augusta 4.1 S.......6.29 inches
GA-CU-9   Appling 2.0 E..........5.47 inches
GA-MD-1   Thomson 2.5 S..........5.24 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE........4.93 inches


Here are some of the highest monthly rainfall totals for
July from our NWS Coop Weather Observers:

Salley 5.9 NNE (SLYS1)..........11.54 inches
N. Augusta 2.3 SSE (NAGS1)......10.80 inches
Wagener 1 SW (WGRS1).............9.04 inches
Holly Hill 1 SW (HHLS1)..........6.61 inches
Bamberg (BAMS1)..................6.58 inches

Here are some of the lowest monthly rainfall totals for
July from our NWS Coop Weather Observers:

Jefferson 0.1 NNW (JEFS1).........0.74 inches
Indian Land 5 SSE (INDS1)........0.95 inches
Newberry WKDK (NWYS1)............1.10 inches
Saluda Water Plant (SADS1).......1.61 inches
Batesburg (BATS1)................1.81 inches


Here are some highest monthly rainfall totals for July from our
CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network):

SC-AK-87  Salley 6.0 NNE........10.88 inches
SC-RC-42  Columbia 3.1 E.........9.45 inches
SC-OR-22  Santee 6.9 WSW.........9.40 inches
SC-SM-35  Sumter 8.0 SSE.........8.66 inches
SC-CF-15  Cheraw 4.9 WSW.........8.44 inches

GA-RC-18  Martinez 1.3 S.........9.56 inches
GA-MD-1   Thomson 2.5 S..........8.78 inches
GA-BK-9   S. Augusta 4.1 S.......8.74 inches
GA-CU-21  Martinez 3.0 NE........8.05 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2...........2.83 inches



Significant Weather Events for June and July 2023...

June:

6th and 7th...A weak surface trough along with daytime heating
produced a moderately unstable environment. Strong to severe
thunderstorms produced several reports across the eastern Midlands
and CSRA of downed trees, limbs and hail up to 1 inch in diameter.

11th...Daytime heating led to the development of a weak to
moderately unstable environment. The strong to severe thunderstorms
downed treed and power lines across the central Midlands.

20th through 22nd...An upper level low west of the region along with
daytime heating along with a very moist atmosphere produced strong
to severe thunderstorms that produced locally heavy rainfall.
Although the storms downed trees and power lines across the
Midlands. The most significant impacts were due to the locally heavy
rainfall across portions of Lexington and Saluda counties in the
town of Batesburg. This area received 3 inches of rain in an hour
and around 8 inches of rainfall over a two day period. There were
numerous reports of flooded roadways and water entering into homes
and businesses. In the CSRA, heavy rainfall fell across downtown
Augusta. Over 2 inches of rain fell in less than 1 hour and over 3
inches for the day. Up to 4 feet of water covered roadways in
downtown Augusta and the Olde Town area. At least a dozen vehicles
were flooded and abandoned including 2 water rescues. Additionally
water entered several homes in the area.

26th...A deep upper low over the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley moved
toward the east coast with a strong frontal boundary. This provided
a setup for storms that produced strong damaging winds. Some of the
strongest storms occurred over Richland, Lexington and Kershaw
counties. A downburst occurred on the north shore of Lake Murray
near Dreher Island State Park and the Timberlake Community. Wind
speeds were estimated to be around 80 mph and snapped or uprooted
nearly 100 trees. A few trees fell on homes and vehicles.

July...
3rd through 5th... Some isolated strong to severe thunderstorms
produced some isolated wind damage along with locally heavy rainfall.
On the 5th, over 2 inches of rain fell in one hour in the city of
Orangeburg. This produced flooding along Malibu Drive affecting some
apartments in a low lying area.

7th through 9th...Daytime heating combined with a surface boundary
produced some scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across the
Midlands. The storms downed trees, large limbs and power lines
across the area.

15th...An isolated severe thunderstorm produced wind damage across
McDuffie County in the CSRA. The storm downed multiple trees near
the town of Thomson.

20th and 21st...Strong daytime heating along with an upper level
system produced widespread strong to severe thunderstorms across the
CSRA and the southeast Midlands. The storms downed numerous trees
and powerlines. On the 20th, some of the hardest hit areas were
across Lincoln, McCormick and Orangeburg counties. A strong storm
moved across Lake Thurmond downing numerous trees at Elijah Clark
State Park and Hamilton Branch State Park in McCormick County. At
Elijah Clark SP, trees damaged 7 to 10 campers and 10 to 20
vehicles. At Hamilton Branch SP, approximately 18 to 20 trees were
snapped or uprooted. The wind speeds were estimated to range from 75
to 85 mph.

An isolated severe storm developed over northern Richland county and
downed several trees and blow over a recycling shed at the county
landfill.

23rd...A severe thunderstorm produced multiple downburst as it
moved across Chesterfield county. The severe thunderstorm produced
damage to numerous tree and limbs from near the Mt. Croghan area to
near Cheraw State Park. Winds were estimated to range from 70 to 90
mph with the event. Two large farm building near Mt. Croghan were
damaged significantly. Fortunately, all of the trees and limbs that
fell just missed several homes and vehicles.


29th through 31st...A moist atmosphere and warm daytime temperatures
produced some locally heavy rainfall and isolated strong to severe
thunderstorms across the CSRA and eastern Midlands.




Hydrology/River Stages...

During the months of June and July, there was only one river flood
event. That occurred during the later portion of June. From June
19th through 23rd, a widespread rainfall event produced totals from
2 to 5 inches with some higher amounts over 7 inches. This led to
some minor to moderate river flooding along the Saluda, Congaree and
N. Fork of the Edisto Rivers. Minor Flooding occurred along the
Saluda River at Chappells crested at 19.02 feet on the 22nd. Flood
Stage is 14.0 feet. The N. Fork of the Edisto River at Orangeburg
crested at 8.86 feet on the 23rd. Flood Stage is 8.0 feet. The
Congaree River at Carolina Eastman crested at 119.70 feet on the
24th. Flood Stage is 115.0 feet. The Congaree River at the Congaree
NP-Gadsden crested at 17.02 feet on the 24th. Flood Stage is 15.0
feet. There were no rive flood events during the month of July.



Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at the intake towers
for June:

Warmest...81.3 F on the 27th
Coolest...66.6 F on the 1st and 2nd

Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at the intake towers
for July:

Warmest...87.4 F on the 9th and 20th
Coolest...76.3 F on the 8th



June Peak Wind Gust at the ASOS Sites and Lake Wind Sites:

Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............55 mph on the 20th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........50 mph on the 11th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............41 mph on the 25th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......39 mph on the 21st
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)...36 mph on the 11th.

Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......34 mph on the 11th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...32 mph on the 14th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............30 mph on the 14th


July Peak Wind Gust at the ASOS Sites and Lake Wind Sites:

Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......54 mph on the 20th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............52 mph on the 20th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............47 mph on the 20th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........38 mph on the 7th
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)...35 mph on the 21st

Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............37 mph on the 30th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......29 mph on the 19th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...26 mph on the 23rd


The 3-Month Climate Outlook
...(September/October/November)...

The outlook calls for about a 33 to 40 percent chance of above
normal temperatures along with a 40 to 50 percent chance of
above normal precipitation.


ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...

...El Nino Advisory...

El Nino conditions are observed. Equatorial surface temperatures are
above average across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. The
tropical Pacific atmosphere anomalies are consistent with El Nino
conditions. El Nino is anticipated to continue through the Northern
Hemisphere winter with a greater than 95 percent chance through
December 2023-February 2024.

Climate Outlooks and ENSO Discussions courtesy of NOAA Climate
Prediction Center...www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov .


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...Clemson Extension 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 https://www.weather.gov/cae .

$$

LCV