Climate Summary September 2023

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
257 PM EDT Oct 06 2023


...Climate Summary for September 2023...


...Temperatures Slightly Below Normal for September...
...Rainfall Varied Widely Across the Midlands and Central
Savannah River Area for September...
...Drought Increasing Across Portions of the Region...
...Relatively Quiet Weather Wise Across the Area...



.Columbia SC Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for
September was 75.0 degrees or 0.5 degrees below the monthly normal
of 75.5 degrees.


.Augusta GA Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for September
was 73.7 degrees or 2.7 degrees below the monthly normal of
76.4 degrees.



.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 4.43 inches of rainfall during
September, 0.52 inches above the monthly normal of 3.91 inches.


.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 5.24 inches of rainfall during
September, 1.64 inches above the monthly value of 3.60 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
Aug       93.2/+2.4     72.1/+0.9     82.6    81.0    +1.6
Sep       85.3/-0.4     64.7/-0.6     75.0    75.5    -0.5



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
Aug       92.5/-0.1     69.9/-1.1     81.2    81.8    -0.6
Sep       85.4/-2.4     62.0/-3.0     73.7    76.4    -2.7


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
Aug            5.71     4.65    +1.06
Sep            4.43     3.91    +0.52

YTD Total     45.93    35.65   +10.28


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
Aug            6.87     4.61    +2.26
Sep            5.24     3.60    +1.64

YTD Total     52.01    35.00   +17.01



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

Augusta...

13th...A record daily rainfall of 2.08 inches was set. The previous
record for this date was 1.70 inches set in 1983.



Columbia...

11th...A record daily rainfall of 1.70 inches was set. The previous
record for the date was 1.64 inches set in 1967.



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

Bamberg (BAMS1)..................6.52 inches
Wagener 1 SW (WGRS1).............5.85 inches
Langley 0.2 SSW (LGLS1)..........5.08 inches

Thomson 1.5 SSE (THMG1)..........0.77 inches
Orangeburg Water Plant (ORBS1)...0.96 inches
McCormick (MCCS1)................1.09 inches


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

SC-BW-6   Barnwell 4.6 S.........7.48 inches
SC-AK-60  Wagener 1.4 S..........5.87 inches
SC-LX-184 Lexington 1.4 S........5.71 inches

SC-OR-17  Orangeburg 3.2 NW......0.69 inches
SC-OR-22  Santee 6.9 WSW.........0.92 inches
SC-OR-52  North 5.2 E............1.01 inches

GA-RC-9   W. Augusta 0.9 NW......6.64 inches
GA-CU-26  Martinez 2.7 WSW.......3.91 inches
GA-BK-1   Waynesboro 3.3 SW......2.08 inches

GA-MD-5   Thomson 2.6 S..........0.75 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE........1.00 inches
GA-BK-9   S. Augusta 4.1 S.......1.26 inches



Significant Weather Events for September 2023...


7th...An approaching strong upper level disturbance produced
widespread severe pulse type convective storms across the Midlands
and the Central Savannah River Area. The CSRA, western Midlands and
central Midlands reported the most severe weather reports. The
storms downed numerous trees and several powerlines across the area.
The storms also produced hail that ranged from penny to quarter size
hail. Many of the damage reports came from Columbia County,
Lexington County, Newberry County and Saluda County.

17th...A very moist atmosphere ahead of an approaching cold front
led to the development of thunderstorms that produced locally heavy
rainfall. Intense rainfall rates produced amounts up to 2 inches
across portions of the City of Columbia. This produced minor to
moderate flooding along Rocky Branch Creek during the early
afternoon. The stream gage along the creek at Whaley Street and Main
Street crested at 9.38 feet. Flood stage is 7.2 feet. Rocky Branch
Creek at Pickens Street crested at 7.92 feet. Pen Branch crested at
6.74 feet.



Hydrology/River Stages...

The rivers across the Edisto River Basin and Santee River Basin were
still influenced by Tropical Storm Idalia that affected the region
in late August. Otherwise, there were no river issues across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area during the month of
September.



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

Warmest...84.0 F on the 7th
Coolest...75.6 F on the 29th



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

Columbia Metro Airport (CAE...........54 mph on the 7th
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)...45 mph on the 7th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............32 mph on the 7th and 9th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......31 mph on the 23rd
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............27 mph on the 22nd

Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...52 mph on the 7th
Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......39 mph on the 7th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............26 mph on the 7th



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

The outlook calls for equal chance of above, below and normal
temperatures through the period. The outlook calls for a 40 to 50
percent chance of above normal precipitation through the period.


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
January 2023-March 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