National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1125 AM EDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

...Climate Summary for September...

...Dry Conditions Continued, Drought Area Expands and Worsens...
...Temperatures Continue Above Normal...
...Several Record High Temperatures Broken...
...Hurricane Dorian Brushes South Carolina...


Dry conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures across the
Midlands and Central Savannah River Area helped to expand the area
of drought across the region. The level of drought continued to
worsen across the Upstate, CSRA and Lowcountry.



.Augusta Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for September
was 80.2 degrees or 5.6 degrees above the normal of 74.6 degrees. It
was the 5th warmest September on record at Augusta.

Here are the top 5 warmest September months on record:
1. 84.7 degrees in 1925
2. 81.6 degrees in 1921
3. 81.4 degrees in 2018
4. 80.4 degrees in 1911
5. 80.2 degrees in 2019


.Columbia Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metro Airport for September was
80.9 degrees or 6.2 degrees above the normal of 74.7 degrees. It was
the 4th warmest September on record at Columbia.

Here are the top 5 warmest September months on record:
1. 82.6 degrees in 1925
2. 81.9 degrees in 2018
3. 81.0 degrees in 1921
4. 80.9 degrees in 2019
5. 79.5 degrees in 1933


.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 0.77 inches of rainfall during
September, 2.45 inches below the normal of 3.22 inches.


.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 1.95 inches of rainfall during
September, 1.59 inches below the normal of 3.54 inches.



Here are some of the highest/lowest NWS Coop Observer monthly
rainfall totals for September 2019:

HHLS1 Holly Hill 1 SW..........3.53 inches
ELTS1 Elliott 0.8 NW...........2.72 inches
LIMS1 Little Mountain..........2.39 inches

MCCS1 McCormick................0.00 inches
LNCG2 Lincolnton 4.4 S.........0.00 inches
BNLS1 Barnwell 5 ENE...........0.15 inches


Here are some of the highest/lowest CoCoRaHS Observers monthly
rainfall totals for September 2019:

SC-LX-35 Lexington 2.9 NE......4.31 inches
SC-CD-6  Manning 1.9 SSE.......4.18 inches
SC-OR-41 Elloree 2.2 WSW.......3.88 inches

GA-CU-6  Martinez 4.5 NNW......0.00 inches
GA-LC-2  Tignall 10.2 ENE......0.09 inches
GA-RC-12 Augusta 4.2 S.........0.15 inches



Highest Wind Gusts at ASOS Sites During September:

Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)............44 mph on the 13th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS)..............44 mph on the 10th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB).......42 mph on the 30th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE)..........34 mph on the 27th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)...29 mph on the 30th


Highest Wind Gusts on the area lakes during September:

Lake Murray Towers USGS (IRMS1).......38 mph on the 5th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)...33 mph on the 12th
Lake Thurmond Dam (CHDS1).............32 mph on the 13th
Lake Wateree Dam (WATS1)..............28 mph on the 5th


Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at The Towers for
September:

Warmest...84.6F on the 12th and 13th
Coolest...79.5F on the 19th and 20th


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

Columbia...

9/26...Minimum temperature was 75 degrees. The previous highest
minimum temperature was 73 degrees set in 2016 and 1993.

9/26...Maximum temperature reached 99 degrees. Previous record was
97 degrees set in 1984.

9/27...Minimum temperature was 73 degrees. This tied the previous
highest minimum temperature set in 2002.

9/30...Maximum temperature reached 99 degrees. Previous record was
94 degrees set in 1904.


Augusta...

9/25...Maximum temperature reached 98 degrees. Previous record was
96 degrees set in 2010 and 1931.

9/26...Maximum temperature reached 97 degrees. Previous record was
96 degrees set in 1984.

9/27...Maximum temperature reached 99 degrees. Previous record was
96 degrees set in 1986.

9/29...Maximum temperature reached 97 degrees. Previous record was
96 degrees set in 1941.

9/30...Maximum temperature reached 101 degrees. Previous record was
96 degrees set in 1904.




Events...

9/5...Hurricane Dorian moved northward just off the South Carolina
coast during the day of the 5th. Dorian produced heavy rainfall
along and east of the I-95 corridor. Dorian also produced strong
gusty winds as far west at the Midlands of South Carolina.


...Total Rainfall Reports for Hurricane Dorian Across
the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider

...South Carolina...

...Bamberg County...
Ehrhardt 0.2 SE              0.53 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Bamberg                      0.32 in   0930 AM 09/06   COOP
Denmark 2.8 WNW              0.13 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS

...Calhoun County...
Swansea 5.7 ENE              0.18 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Swansea 3.9 ENE              0.17 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS

...Chesterfield County...
Jefferson 7e                 0.64 in   1114 AM 09/06   HADS
Carolina Sandhills           0.64 in   1114 AM 09/06   RAWS
Cheraw                       0.59 in   1118 AM 09/06   CWOP
Usgs Raingage                0.56 in   1115 AM 09/06   USGS
Black Creek                  0.49 in   1100 AM 09/06   HADS
Usgs Raingage                0.26 in   1100 AM 09/06   USGS

...Clarendon County...
Manning 1.9 SSE              2.12 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Santee Nwr                   0.92 in   1044 AM 09/06   RAWS

...Fairfield County...
Ridgeway                     0.12 in   1123 AM 09/06   CWOP

...Kershaw County...
Camden 6.6 NE                0.36 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Lugoff 0.9 NW                0.34 in   0900 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Wells Ker-433 And Ker-435    0.20 in   1000 AM 09/06   HADS
Elgin                        0.13 in   1123 AM 09/06   CWOP

...Lee County...
Lynches River                0.70 in   1100 AM 09/06   HADS

...Lexington County...
West Columbia 5.9 WSW        0.02 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Irmo 1.0 WNW                 0.01 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Lexington 3.3 SSE            0.01 in   0845 AM 09/06   COCORAHS

...Orangeburg County...
Santee                       1.06 in   1124 AM 09/06   CWOP
Santee 6.9 WSW               1.00 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Elloree 2.2 WSW              0.65 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Orangeburg                   0.40 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Orangeburg 3.2 NW            0.34 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
North 5.1 NE                 0.34 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Neeses 7.0 SE                0.33 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Orangeburg                   0.29 in   1116 AM 09/06   RAWS
Orangeburg                   0.26 in   1121 AM 09/06   CWOP
Orangeburg                   0.22 in   1053 AM 09/06   ASOS
North Fork Edisto River      0.20 in   1100 AM 09/06   HADS
Orangeburg                   0.16 in   1121 AM 09/06   CWOP
South Fork Edisto River      0.09 in   1100 AM 09/06   HADS
North Aux                    0.09 in   1056 AM 09/06   AWOS

...Richland County...
Congaree                     0.33 in   1047 AM 09/06   RAWS
Mccrady Training Center      0.32 in   1133 AM 09/06   RAWS
Mcentire Ang                 0.23 in   1056 AM 09/06   AWOS
Weir Tower                   0.21 in   1051 AM 09/06   RAWS
Columbia 6.8 NNE             0.16 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Columbia                     0.11 in   1115 AM 09/06   CWOP
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Airp 0.11 in   1053 AM 09/06   ASOS
Columbia 8.8 N               0.11 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Blythewood 4.7 SSE           0.11 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Columbia 6.7 N               0.10 in   0700 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Columbia                     0.06 in   1116 AM 09/06   CWOP

...Sumter County...
Sumter 0.3 ENE               1.02 in   0800 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Sumter 0.2 NE                1.02 in   0600 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Sumter                       0.88 in   1101 AM 09/06   CWOP
Sumter                       0.83 in   1116 AM 09/06   CWOP
Sumter 1.9 W                 0.81 in   0600 AM 09/06   COCORAHS
Pinewood                     0.78 in   1101 AM 09/06   CWOP
Pinewood                     0.69 in   1100 AM 09/06   CWOP
Wedgefield                   0.33 in   1100 AM 09/06   CWOP
Shaw AFB Sumter              0.15 in   1056 AM 09/06   AWOS



...Highest Wind Gusts from Hurricane Dorian across the Midlands of
SC and Central Savannah River Area of GA...

Location                       Speed      Provider
Santee Cooper Apt Manning SC   48 MPH     AWOS
North SC Aux Air Field         40 MPH     AWOS
McEntire JNG Base Eastover SC  39 MPH     AWOS
Cheraw SC                      38 MPH     AWOS
Orangeburg SC Apt              36 MPH     ASOS
Orangeburg SC                  36 MPH     RAWS
Barnwell SC                    35 MPH     AWOS
Shaw AFB Sumter SC             35 MPH     AWOS
ETV Williams-Brice Stadium     31 MPH     MESOWEST
Augusta GA Bush Field          31 MPH     ASOS
Sumter SC Municipal Apt        31 MPH     AWOS
Wedgefield SC                  30 MPH     CWOP



YEAR TO DATE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION STATISTICS...

COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2018  55.5/-0.5      30.5/-3.2      43.0      44.8    -1.8
FEB       70.1/+9.8      49.6/+12.8     59.8      48.5   +11.3
MAR       65.8/-2.4      42.5/-0.5      54.2      55.6    -1.4
APR       75.1/-1.2      49.4/-1.0      62.3      63.4    -1.1
MAY       87.3/+1.4      66.5/+7.0      76.9      71.7    +5.2
JUN       93.8/+3.8      71.7/+3.5      82.8      79.1    +3.7
JUL       93.5/+0.8      73.5/+1.9      83.5      82.2    +1.3
AUG       92.9/+2.2      72.7/+1.7      82.8      80.8    +2.0
SEP       91.2/+6.0      72.6/+8.4      81.9      74.7    +7.2
OCT       79.6/+3.5      57.5/+5.4      68.5      64.1    +4.4
NOV       62.3/-5.0      43.2/+0.9      52.8      54.8    -2.0
DEC       58.5/+0.3      39.2/+3.9      48.8      46.7    +2.1
Annual    77.1/+1.6      55.7/+3.3      66.4      63.9    +2.5

JAN 2019  57.7/+1.7      36.3/+2.6      47.0      44.8    +2.2
FEB       65.1/+4.8      41.2/+4.4      53.2      48.5    +4.7
MAR       67.4/-0.8      42.7/+0.3      55.1      55.6    -0.5
APR       77.9/+1.6      52.7/+2.3      65.3      63.4    +1.9
MAY       89.2/+5.4      65.4/+5.9      77.3      71.7    +5.6
JUN       88.9/-1.1      68.2/ 0.0      78.5      79.1    -0.6
JUL       93.2/+2.9      72.2/+0.6      82.7      82.2    +0.5
AUG       92.5/+1.8      72.1/+1.1      82.3      80.8    +1.5
SEP       93.0/+7.8      68.9/+4.7      80.9      74.7    +6.2


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL...

         AVG HIGH/DEP   AVG LOW/DEP   AVG TEMP    NORM  DEPARTURE
JAN 2018  57.1/-0.8      29.2/-3.6     43.1       45.4    -2.3
FEB       71.6/+9.3      48.4/+12.5    60.0       49.1   +10.9
MAR       67.7/-2.2      41.2/-1.4     54.5       55.9    -1.4
APR       75.1/-2.2      46.1/-2.0     60.6       62.7    -2.1
MAY       86.4/+1.4      61.5/+4.2     74.0       71.1    +2.9
JUN       92.2/+1.2      68.7/+2.5     80.5       78.6    +1.9
JUL       91.2/-2.2      70.9/+1.1     81.0       81.6    -0.6
AUG       92.4/+0.6      70.4/+1.1     81.4       80.5    +0.9
SEP       92.4/+5.7      70.4/+7.8     81.4       74.6    +6.8
OCT       80.6/+2.9      56.7/+4.3     68.7       64.4    +4.3
NOV       64.3/-4.8      43.3/+1.9     53.8       55.2    -1.4
DEC       61.1/+1.1      40.5/+6.0     50.8       47.2    +3.6
Annual    77.7/+0.8      53.9/+2.9     65.8       63.9    +1.9


JAN 2019  60.7/+2.8      37.4/+4.6     49.1       45.4    +3.7
FEB       68.4/+6.1      43.2/+7.3     55.8       49.1    +6.7
MAR       71.2/+1.3      42.8/+0.8     57.0       55.9    +1.1
APR       80.0/+2.7      52.1/+4.0     66.0       62.7    +3.3
MAY       91.0/+6.0      64.1/+6.8     77.5       71.1    +6.4
JUN       90.7/-0.3      67.6/+1.4     79.2       78.6    +0.6
JUL       96.3/+2.9      71.1/+1.3     83.7       81.6    +2.1
AUG       93.7/+1.9      71.5/+2.2     82.6       80.5    +2.1
SEP       93.7/+7.0      66.8/+4.2     80.2       74.6    +5.6



COLUMBIA SC METROPOLITAN AIRPORT 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY
PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
JAN 2018       2.42     3.58    -1.16
FEB            1.61     3.61    -2.00
MAR            2.97     3.73    -0.76
APR            3.10     2.62    +0.48
MAY            2.76     2.97    -0.21
JUN            3.45     4.69    -1.24
JUL            3.68     5.46    -1.78
AUG            3.25     5.26    -2.01
SEP            6.09     3.54    +2.55
OCT            6.36     3.17    +3.22
NOV            6.55     2.74    +3.81
DEC            7.25     3.22    +4.03
Annual        49.52    44.59    +4.93

JAN 2019       3.07     3.58    -0.57
FEB            0.88     3.61    -2.73
MAR            2.61     3.73    -1.12
APR            2.86     2.62    +0.24
MAY            2.35     2.97    -0.62
JUN            8.03     4.69    +3.34
JUL            4.50     5.46    +0.96
AUG            1.40     5.26    -3.86
SEP            1.95     3.54    -1.59


AUGUSTA GA BUSH FIELD 2018/2019 MONTHLY/YEARLY PRECIPITATION...

               TOTAL   NORMAL   DEPARTURE
              (INCHES)
JAN 2018       2.09     3.91     -1.82
FEB            1.57     3.92     -2.35
MAR            3.21     4.18     -0.97
APR            3.47     2.84     +0.63
MAY            8.21     2.65     +5.56
JUN            5.19     4.72     +0.47
JUL            3.13     4.33     -1.20
AUG            4.28     4.32     -0.04
SEP            7.19     3.22     +3.97
OCT            4.58     3.27     +1.31
NOV            5.98     2.82     +3.16
DEC            5.94     3.39     +2.55
Annual        54.84    43.57    +11.27

Jan 2019       4.40     3.91     +0.49
FEB            1.14     3.92     -2.78
MAR            2.23     4.18     -1.95
APR            3.01     2.84     +0.17
MAY            3.70     2.65     +1.05
JUN            6.45     4.72     +1.73
JUL            1.39     4.33     -2.94
AUG           12.92     4.32     +8.60
SEP            0.77     3.22     -2.45



The 3-Month Outlook for Fall/Winter
(October/November/December)...

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

Go to the Climate Prediction Center web page at
www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov for more details and the latest outlooks.

ENSO (EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION)...
ENSO-neutral conditions are present.

Equatorial sea surface temperatures are above average across the
western Pacific Ocean and are below average across the eastern
Pacific Ocean.

ENSO-neutral conditions is most likely to continue through the
Northern Hemisphere fall 2019, continuing through spring 2020. There
is a 55 to 60 percent chance of these conditions continuing into the
spring season.


Climate Outlooks and ENSO Discussions courtesy of 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 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 http://www.weather.gov/cae .

$$

LCV