...Climate Summary for February 2023...
...Well Above Normal Temperatures for the Month...
...5th Warmest February on Record at Columbia...
...11th Warmest February on Record at Augusta...
...Minor River Flooding 12th - 15th...
.Columbia SC Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for
February was 56.7 degrees or 7.6 degrees above the monthly normal of
49.1 degrees.
.Augusta GA Average Temperatures...
The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for February
was 56.4 degrees or 5.6 degrees above the monthly normal of
50.8 degrees.
.Columbia Rainfall...
Columbia Metro Airport received 3.50 inches of rainfall during
February, 0.11 inches above the monthly normal of 3.39 inches.
.Augusta Rainfall...
Augusta Bush Field received 5.08 inches of rainfall during February,
1.41 inches above the monthly value of 3.67 inches.
YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATS...
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2021-2023 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
AVG HIGH/DEP AVG LOW/DEP AVG TEMP NORM DEPARTURE
Jan 2021 55.5/-1.3 35.8/+1.2 45.6 45.7 -0.1
Feb 58.7/-2.1 38.2/+0.9 48.4 49.1 -0.7
Mar 70.5/+2.2 46.5/+2.9 58.5 55.9 +2.6
Apr 77.2/+0.5 49.6/-1.9 63.4 64.1 -0.7
May 83.5/-0.3 57.0/-3.5 70.3 72.2 -1.9
Jun 88.4/-1.3 69.2/+0.6 78.8 79.1 0.3
Jul 90.2/-2.5 71.4/-0.6 80.8 82.4 -1.6
Aug 90.0/-0.8 72.7/+1.5 81.4 80.8 +0.4
Sep 85.3/-0.4 63.6/-1.7 74.4 75.5 -1.1
Oct 78.7/+1.5 57.0/+4.3 67.9 64.6 +3.3
Nov 66.1/-0.3 37.8/-3.8 52.0 54.0 -2.0
Dec 66.5/+7.6 43.0/+6.5 54.8 47.7 +7.1
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
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2021-2022 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND
DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...
Jan 2021 59.5/-0.1 36.8/+1.5 48.2 47.4 +0.8
Feb 63.1/-0.4 39.1/+1.0 51.1 50.8 +0.3
Mar 74.3/+3.3 47.0/+2.9 60.6 57.5 +3.1
Apr 79.2/+0.7 47.8/-2.8 63.5 64.6 -1.1
May 85.5/-0.4 55.5/-4.1 70.5 72.7 -2.2
Jun 90.0/-1.3 67.9/-0.2 79.0 79.7 -0.7
Jul 91.9/-2.2 70.7/-0.9 81.3 82.8 -1.5
Aug 92.7/+0.1 72.3/+1.3 82.5 81.8 +0.7
Sep 87.4/-0.4 62.8/-2.2 75.1 76.4 -1.3
Oct 80.4/+1.4 55.8/+2.7 68.1 66.0 +2.1
Nov 68.4/-0.7 37.1/-5.1 52.8 55.6 -2.8
Dec 69.3/+7.8 43.9/+6.6 56.6 49.4 +7.2
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
COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2021-2023 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE (INCHES)
Jan 2021 5.32 3.49 +1.83
Feb 6.39 3.39 +3.00
Mar 3.43 3.57 -0.14
Apr 0.80 2.83 -2.03 *Tied 8th Driest April on Record
May 2.64 3.49 -0.85
Jun 3.71 4.97 -1.26
Jul 6.09 5.35 +0.74
Aug 9.55 4.65 +4.90
Sep 4.09 3.91 +0.18
Oct 1.48 3.13 -1.65
Nov 0.28 2.76 -2.48 *4th Driest November on Record
Dec 3.92 3.70 +0.22
YTD Total 47.70 45.24 +2.46
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
YTD Total 9.29 6.88 +2.41
AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2021-2022 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...
TOTAL NORMAL DEPARTURE (INCHES)
Jan 2021 4.87 3.84 +1.03
Feb 6.59 3.67 +2.92
Mar 4.70 4.08 +0.62
Apr 1.57 2.92 -1.35
May 2.49 3.05 -0.56
Jun 8.30 4.75 +3.55 *9th Wettest June on Record
Jul 6.54 4.48 +2.06
Aug 5.79 4.61 +1.18
Sep 6.65 3.60 +3.05
Oct 1.39 2.56 -1.17
Nov 0.27 2.66 -2.39 *4th Driest November on Record
Dec 5.55 3.87 +1.68
YTD Total 54.71 44.09 +10.62
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
YTD Total 11.87 7.51 +4.36
Temperature/Precipitation Records Tied or Broken during the month of
February:
Augusta...
11th - A record rainfall of 1.47 was set at Augusta Regional Bush
Field. This breaks the old record of 1.3 set in 2013.
22nd - A record high temperature of 83 was set at Augusta Bush Field.
This ties the old record of 83 set in 2011.
23rd - A record high temperature of 84 was set at Augusta Bush Field.
This ties the old record of 84 set in 2022.
Columbia...
11th - A record rainfall of 1.36 was set at Columbia Metro Airport.
This breaks the old record of 1.32 set in 1981.
23rd - A record high temperature of 83 was set at Columbia Metro
Airport. This breaks the old record of 82 set in 1962.
Here are some of the highest monthly rainfall totals for
February from our NWS Coop Weather Observers:
Little Mountain (LIMS1)..........4.84 inches
Newberry WKDK (NWYS1)............4.47 inches
Bamberg (BAMS1)..................4.46 inches
Cedar Creek (BLYS1)..............4.34 inches
Lincolnton 4.4 S (LNCG2).........4.34 inches
Here are some highest monthly rainfall totals for February from
our CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network):
SC-RC-127 Columbia 2.1 NNW.......6.19 inches
GA-CU-9 Appling 2.0 SE.........6.02 inches
GA-CU-26 Martinez 2.7 WSW.......5.57 inches
SC-RC-1 Dentsville 6.6 NNE.....5.34 inches
GA-RC-9 West Augusta 0.9 NW....5.25 inches
Significant Weather Events for February 2023...
February 11th - 12th...An area of low pressure developed along a
frontal boundary in the northern Gulf of America on the 11th and
moved northeast up along the Southeast Coast on the 12th. This
system produced locally heavy rainfall across the Carolinas and east-
central Georgia. Rainfall amounts in excess of 2 inches produced
some minor river flooding on the areas rivers from the 12th through
the 15th.
Here are the highest 2 day rainfall totals from the event:
Location Amount Time/Date Provider
...Georgia...
...Columbia County...
Evans 2.1 NNW 2.46 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Appling 2.0 SE 2.40 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Evans 3.0 N 2.33 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Martinez 0.9 NW 2.14 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Martinez 2.7 WSW 2.11 in 0713 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Lincoln County...
0.9 NE Lincolnton 2.32 in 0800 AM 02/12 COOP
...McDuffie County...
Thomson 2.6 S 2.10 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Thomson 2 SSE 2.00 in 0900 AM 02/12 COOP
...Richmond County...
South Augusta 4.1 S 2.04 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Fort Gordon 2.03 in 1101 AM 02/12 RAWS
...South Carolina...
...Aiken County...
Salley 6.0 NNE 2.25 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Springfield 4.0 WNW 2.19 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Bamberg County...
Bamberg 3.00 in 0700 AM 02/12 COOP
Denmark 2.8 WNW 2.83 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Denmark 2.0 N 2.72 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Ehrhardt 0.2 SE 2.54 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Barnwell County...
BNLS1 2.72 in 0800 AM 02/12 COOP
Barnwell 1.2 WSW 2.59 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Williston 2.14 in 1125 AM 02/12 CWOP
...Calhoun County...
Swansea 3.9 ENE 2.35 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Swansea 3.5 NE 2.35 in 0700 AM 02/12 COOP
...Chesterfield County...
Carolina Sandhills NWR 2.05 in 1114 AM 02/12 RAWS
Jefferson 0.1 NW 2.03 in 0630 AM 02/12 COOP
Jefferson 0.2 NNW 2.03 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Clarendon County...
Summerton 7.6 SW 2.66 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Manning 8.7 S 2.60 in 0753 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Manning 1.9 SSE 2.60 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Santee NWR 2.42 in 1044 AM 02/12 RAWS
Summerton 7.6 ESE 2.41 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Edgefield County...
Edgefield 3.3 N 2.37 in 0528 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Long Cane Portable 2.32 in 1050 AM 02/12 RAWS
Johnston 4 SW 2.08 in 0900 AM 02/12 COOP
...Kershaw County...
Lugoff 2.2 NNW 2.60 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Camden 2.2 NNW 2.49 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Camden 6.6 NE 2.48 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lugoff 0.9 NW 2.47 in 0900 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
2 N Camden 2.30 in 0728 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Cassatt 3.6 NW 2.22 in 0936 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lugoff 2 NE 2.20 in 0825 AM 02/12 COOP
...Lancaster County...
Lancaster 0.4 WSW 2.35 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Fort Mill 3.5 ENE 2.19 in 0900 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Lee County...
Lynches R. nr Bishopville 2.19 in 1100 AM 02/12 HADS
...Lexington County...
West Columbia 1.0 NW 2.54 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 2.9 NE 2.37 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 9.6 WNW 2.32 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Oak Grove 1.4 N 2.32 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia Metro Airport 2.26 in 1056 AM 02/12 ASOS
Swansea 6.1 SW 2.20 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
West Columbia 5.9 WSW 2.20 in 0900 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 4.2 ENE 2.19 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Leesville 10.6 NNE 2.17 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Cayce 1.5 NNE 2.17 in 0820 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 3.0 NW 2.13 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Chapin 6.0 SSW 2.10 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 5.8 WNW 2.10 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 2.2 WSW 2.10 in 0600 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 5.6 S 2.08 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 3.0 WSW 2.05 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 2.1 SW 2.04 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Lexington 1.6 WNW 2.01 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Gilbert 8.0 N 2.00 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...McCormick County...
McCormick 0.5 NW 2.07 in 0657 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
McCormick 2.06 in 0700 AM 02/12 COOP
McCormick 4.4 W 2.06 in 0730 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Newberry County...
Prosperity 0.1 NW 2.39 in 0645 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Newberry 1.0 N 2.38 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Prosperity 1.9 SSE 2.30 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Little Mountain 2.28 in 0900 AM 02/12 COOP
Newberry 2.20 in 1030 AM 02/12 COOP
Newberry 2.9 S 2.17 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Orangeburg County...
Santee 2.0 ENE 2.88 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Cope 4.1 NE 2.78 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Holly Hill 1 SW 2.75 in 0700 AM 02/12 COOP
Santee 6.9 WSW 2.60 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Elloree 2.2 WSW 2.57 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
2 WNW Holly Hill 2.53 in 0600 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
North 5.2 E 2.53 in 0600 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Orangeburg 2.41 in 1116 AM 02/12 RAWS
Orangeburg Airport 2.34 in 1119 AM 02/12 ASOS
Santee 2.20 in 1130 AM 02/12 CWOP
...Richland County...
Congaree National Park 2.71 in 1047 AM 02/12 RAWS
Hopkins 3.9 NNE 2.59 in 0900 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
McCrady TC Ft Jackson 2.59 in 0933 AM 02/12 RAWS
Dentsville 6.6 NNE 2.54 in 0640 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 5.6 SSW 2.52 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Chapin 5.0 ESE 2.48 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Weir Tower Ft Jackson 2.48 in 0951 AM 02/12 RAWS
Columbia 3.1 E 2.45 in 0600 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Valencia Heights 1.0 WNW 2.42 in 0630 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 6.7 W 2.36 in 0859 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
McEntire JNG 2.34 in 1105 AM 02/12 ASOS
Columbia 6.4 W 2.34 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 4.4 N 2.29 in 0742 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 5.7 WSW 2.25 in 0816 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 6.1 WSW 2.24 in 0637 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 3.2 NE 2.21 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 4.0 W 2.17 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Elgin 4.0 SW 2.14 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 1.5 NW 2.13 in 0800 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Irmo 4.2 NNW 2.12 in 0912 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
SCFC Portable RAWS 2.11 in 1119 AM 02/12 RAWS
Blythewood 5.8 W 2.09 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Columbia 8.8 N 2.03 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Saluda County...
Saluda 0.6 NNE 2.68 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Saluda Water Plant 2.35 in 0800 AM 02/12 COOP
Saluda 6.1 SW 2.34 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Saluda 2.15 in 1130 AM 02/12 CWOP
Saluda 3.5 ENE 2.13 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
...Sumter County...
Sumter 3.3 SW 2.90 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Dalzell 2.3 W 2.67 in 0700 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Sumter 0.2 NE 2.12 in 0813 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
1 NNE Cane Savannah 2.10 in 0558 AM 02/12 COCORAHS
Wedgewood 2.09 in 1135 AM 02/12 AWS
Sumter 2.01 in 1115 AM 02/12 CWOP
Hydrology/River Stages...
With rainfall averaging near to above normal from December into
January the area soils were quite moist and stream flows remained
above normal. Rainfall during February was near normal across the
area. There was one river flood event during the month that occurred
between the 12th and 15th, producing minor flooding.
Here are some of the river crest that occurred with the event.
Stevens Creek at Modoc crested at 25.03 feet on the evening of the
12th. Flood Stage is 19.0 feet.
Great Pee Dee River at Cheraw crested at 30.88 feet on the afternoon
of the 13th. Flood Stage is 30.0 feet.
Congaree River at Columbia crested at 12.34 feet on the afternoon of
the 13th. Advisory Stage is 10.0 feet, Flood Stage is 19.0 feet.
Congaree River at Carolina Eastman crested at 118.60 on the
afternoon of the 13th. Flood Stage is 115.0 feet.
Congaree River at Congaree NP-Gadsden crested at 16.61 feet on the
late evening of the 13th. Flood Stage is 15.0 feet.
North Fork of the Edisto River crested at 8.05 feet on the morning
of the 14th. Flood Stage is 8.0 feet.
Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at the intake towers
for:
February:
Warmest...57.4 F on the 27th
Coolest...50.2 F on the 12th
February Peak Wind Gust at the ASOS Sites and Lake Wind Sites:
Augusta Bush Field (AGS).............36 mph on the 9th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE).........36 mph on the 9th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)...........36 mph on the 11th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB)......35 mph on the 17th
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)..31 mph on the 9th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1)......39 mph on the 28th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)..34 mph on the 28th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1).............29 mph on the 17th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1)......52 mph on the 23rd
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1).............49 mph on the 23rd
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)..46 mph on the 23rd.
The 3-Month Climate Outlook
...(March/April/May)...
The outlook calls for about a 40 to 50 percent chance of above
normal temperatures along with equal chance of near normal, above
normal or below normal precipitation.
ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
...La Nina Has Ended Across the Equatorial Pacific Ocean...
ENSO Neutral conditions are present. During February 2023, the below-
average sea surface temperatures weakened. ENSO Neutral conditions
are expected to continue through the spring, with El Nino developing
afterwards. There is a 60 percent chance that El Nino conditions
will develop by the fall of 2023.
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 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 .
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