Latest Monthly Climate Summary

Public Information Statement National Weather Service Columbia SC
403 PM June 2 2022


...Climate Summary for May 2022 for the Midlands of SC and Central
Savannah River Area of GA...


...Severe Weather and Flash Flooding were the big stories for the
month...

...Damaging Winds and Large Hail Event on the 6th...

...Considerable Flash Flood Event for Five Points on the 21st...

...Temperatures 1 to 3 Degrees Above Normal across the Midlands and
Central Savannah River Area...

...Precipitation Near Normal across much of the Midlands and Central
Savannah River Area...



.Columbia SC Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for May
2022 was 74.7 degrees or 2.5 degrees above the monthly normal of
72.2 degrees.

.Augusta GA Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for May 2022
was 73.1 degrees or 0.4 degrees above the monthly normal of 72.7
degrees.


.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 2.92 inches of rainfall during May,
0.57 inches below the monthly normal of 3.49 inches.

.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 3.80 inches of rainfall during May, 0.75
inches above the normal monthly value of 3.05 inches.



YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2021-2022 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


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


COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2021-2022 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
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
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


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
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
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



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

Augusta...

None


Columbia...

None



Here are some of the highest monthly rainfall totals for May 2022
from our NWS Coop Weather Observers:

Swansea 3.5 NE (SWAS1)..............6.02 inches
Columbia Univ. of SC (USCS1)........4.96 inches
Manning (MANS1).....................4.80 inches
Batesburg (BATS1)...................4.49 inches
Graniteville 1.2 NE (GNTS1).........4.29 inches


Here are some highest monthly rainfall totals for May 2022
from our CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow
Network):


SC-AK-71  N. Augusta 3.5 ENE.....6.49 inches
SC-CA-17  Swansea 3.9 ENE........6.02 inches
SC-RC-127 Columbia 2.1 NNW.......5.79 inches
SC-OR-49  Santee 2.0 ENE.........5.70 inches
SC-CD-6   Manning 1.9 SSE........5.07 inches

GA-BK-1   Waynesboro 3.3 SW......4.17 inches
GA-MD-6   Thomson 5.1 NE.........3.91 inches
GA-CU-9   Appling 2.0 E..........3.51 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE........3.28 inches
GA-RC-12  Augusta 4.2 W..........2.39 inches



Significant Weather Events for May 2022...


May 1st...A frontal boundary and associated mid-upper level impulse
forced a small area of scattered supercell like convection across
the central Midlands. The atmospheric environment was primarily
conducive for large hail. Hail size ranged from the size of a
quarter up to the size of golf balls. The large hail damaged
shingles and shredded leaves from trees. Most of the reports were in
Saluda and Lexington counties.


May 3rd...Widespread pulse severe thunderstorms formed within a weak
area of convergence across central South Carolina. The thunderstorms
produced downburst winds along with large hail. The strong winds
downed trees, turned over a pivot irrigation system, damaged some
metal roll-up doors and downed power lines. A downburst in West
Columbia downed trees and powerlines near Triangle City. Most of the
damage occurred over the northern and central Midlands.


May 6th...A widespread wind and hail event occurred ahead of a mid-
upper level impulse that moved across the region. There were several
reports of hail from one inch up to 2 inches in diameter,
especially across the Central Savannah River Area with a focus
around the Augusta Metropolitan Area. Strong damaging wind gusts
brought down trees and powerlines across the Georgia counties of the
Central Savannah River Area.


May 10th...Unseasonably cool Canadian high pressure settled
southward into the region on the morning of the 10th. Morning low
temperatures fell into the upper 30s to middle 40s across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area.

Here are some of the chilly morning lows reported on the 10th:

...Chilly May Morning Across the Midlands and CSRA...

Location                     Temp      Time/Date       Provider
Leesburg-Hwy. 601             37 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Cedar Creek                   39 F     0700 AM 05/10   COOP
Pinewood                      40 F     0700 AM 05/10   CWOP
Graniteville 1 NE             40 F     0700 AM 05/10   COOP
Landfill                       40 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
2 ESE Saluda                  41 F     0700 AM 05/10   AWS
McCrady TC Ft Jackson         41 F     0633 AM 05/10   RAWS
Bear Creek                    41 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Pomaria                       41 F     0700 AM 05/10   PUBLIC
Richland Library NE           41 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Hunts Mill                    41 F     0700 AM 05/10   PUBLIC
Crane Creek FS                41 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Silverstreet                  42 F     0700 AM 05/10   COOP
4 WNW Waxhaw                  42 F     0655 AM 05/10   AWS
Springhill                    42 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Hopkins                       42 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Elgin                         42 F     0529 AM 05/10   CWOP
Graniteville                  42 F     0709 AM 05/10   CWOP
Wedgefield                     42 F     0600 AM 05/10   CWOP
Lexington                     42 F     0700 AM 05/10   CWOP
McEntire JNG                  42 F     0756 AM 05/10   ASOS
Lugoff 2 NE                    42 F     0830 AM 05/10   COOP
1 E Mulberry                  42 F     0525 AM 05/10   AWS
Springfield                    43 F     0715 AM 05/10   CWOP
Orangeburg                    43 F     0706 AM 05/10   CWOP
Gilbert                       43 F     0700 AM 05/10   CWOP
Lancaster McWhirter Field     43 F     0535 AM 05/10   AWOS
Sumter Municipal Apt          43 F     0615 AM 05/10   AWOS
Dutch Fork HS                 43 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
SRS - SAVRIV                  43 F     0707 AM 05/10   RAWS
1 S Pelion                    43 F     0700 AM 05/10   AWS
Irmo Fire District            43 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Swansea                       43 F     0700 AM 05/10   COOP
Lake Murray Dam               50 F     0700 AM 05/10   RCWINDS
Santee State Park             50 F     0700 AM 05/10   PUBLIC
Flotilla Is. Lake Murray      51 F     0620 AM 05/10   NDBC
Lake Murray Water Temp Twrs   70 F     0700 AM 05/10   USGS


May 21st...Thunderstorms developed across the central Midlands
during the afternoon. The storms moved very slowly and produced
locally heavy rainfall over downtown Columbia. Rain gauges across
downtown Columbia indicated that 1 to 3 inches of rain fell in just
over 1 hour. The rainfall produced flash flooding in areas of
downtown Columbia. Areas along Rocky Branch, including the Five
Points community, experienced flash flooding conditions. Cars were
partially submerged near the Walgreens and streets in Five Points.
The City of Columbia gage at MLK Park received 3.20 in 50 minutes.
Several business experienced considerable flooding in the Five
Points business district. The RCWinds mesonet site at MLK Park
received 2.17 inches in 30 minutes. Significant flooding occurred at
the intersection of Whaley Street and Main Street at Rocky Branch.
The stream gage at this intersection crested at 11.75 feet. Flood
stage is 7.2 feet. Other flooded roadways in the City of Columbia
occurred along Pendleton Street at Huger Street. Also, the underpass
below the train tracks on Gervais Street near Harden Street was
flooded. A vehicle was flooding along Read Street and Harden Street
in Columbia.

Additional minor flooding occurred along North Main Street near
Earlewood Park where Smith Branch passes through. The gage along N.
Main Street crested at 9.05 feet. Flood stage is 9.0 feet.


May 23rd...A large are of convection over southern Georgia developed
and moved northeast into the CSRA and Midlands. The system produced
strong damaging wind gusts and some isolated reports of hail up to
quarter size. The winds downed trees and powerlines across the CSRA
and Midlands.

Here are some of the highest wind gusts reported with the event:

...Thunderstorms Produced Strong Wind Gusts Across the Midlands
and Central Savannah River Area Monday Afternoon...

...Highest Wind Gus Reports...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Provider
Orangeburg Municipal Apt     53 MPH    0646 PM 05/23   ASOS
Flotilla Is. Lake Murray     46 MPH    1210 PM 05/23   NDBC
Columbia Metro Airport       43 MPH    0630 PM 05/23   ASOS
Coast Guard Island Lk Murray 43 MPH    1215 PM 05/23   RCWINDS
Lake Murray Dam Lex. Side    43 MPH    1215 PM 05/23   RCWINDS
North AF Aux Airfield         41 MPH    0615 PM 05/23   AWOS
Carolina Sandhills NWR       37 MPH    0214 PM 05/23   RAWS
Lancaster McWhirter Field    37 MPH    1255 PM 05/23   AWOS
Lake Wateree Dam             36 MPH    0110 PM 05/23   NDBC
Camden Woodward Field        36 MPH    0715 PM 05/23   AWOS
McEntire JNG                 36 MPH    0656 PM 05/23   ASOS
Midville                     36 MPH    0445 PM 05/23   UGA
Landfill                      36 MPH    1225 PM 05/23   RCWINDS
2.0 SE Columbia (WxSTEM)     35 MPH    1240 PM 05/23   MESOWEST
Fairfield Co Apt Winnsboro    35 MPH    1235 PM 05/23   AWOS
Newberry (WxSTEM)            34 MPH    0540 PM 05/23   MESOWEST
Orangeburg                   34 MPH    0648 PM 05/23   CWOP
I-20 Augusta - Welcome Ctr   34 MPH    1050 AM 05/23   MESOWEST
Santee NWR                   34 MPH    0744 PM 05/23   RAWS
Newberry Co Apt              33 MPH    1135 AM 05/23   AWOS
Shaw AFB Sumter              33 MPH    0713 PM 05/23   ASOS
Williston                    32 MPH    0555 PM 05/23   CWOP
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Apt  32 MPH    0649 PM 05/23   ASOS
Gracewood                    31 MPH    1051 AM 05/23   CWOP
Saluda                       31 MPH    1136 AM 05/23   CWOP
Augusta Bush Field Apt       31 MPH    0507 PM 05/23   ASOS
Barnwell Regional Apt        31 MPH    0555 PM 05/23   AWOS
Broad River-St. Andrews      31 MPH    1225 PM 05/23   RCWINDS
Lexington Adm. Bldg.         31 MPH    1215 PM 05/23   RCWINDS
Wagener Courtney Ctr EMS     30 MPH    0700 PM 05/23   RCWINDS




Hydrology/River Stages...

Rocky Branch crested at 11.75 feet on the afternoon of the 21st due
to locally heavy rainfall. Flood stage is 7.2 feet.

Smith Branch crested at 9.05 feet on the afternoon of the 21st due
to locally heavy rainfall. Flood stage is 9.0 feet.

There were no river flood events during the month of May.



Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at the intake towers
for May 2022:

Warmest...79.3 F on the 20th.
Coolest...64.4 F on the 9th.



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

Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)...........56 mph on the 6th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB)......53 mph on the 23rd
Augusta Bush Field (AGS).............51 mph on the 6th
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)..50 mph on the 21st
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE).........49 mph on the 6th


The 3-Month Climate Outlook
...(June/July/August)...

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


ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...

...La Nina Advisory...

La Nina is present. The tropical Pacific atmosphere is consistent
with La Nina. Though La Nina is favored to continue, the odds for La
Nina decrease into the late Northern Hemisphere summer (~58 percent
chance in Augusta - October 2022) before slightly increasing through
the Northern Hemisphere fall and early winter 2022 (~61 percent
chance).

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 .