Climate Summary June and July 2022

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
112 PM August 11 2022


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


...Severe Weather and Flash Flooding were the big stories for both
months...

...Multiple Events of Damaging Winds and Large Hail in June and
July...

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

...Record Crest along Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main Streets on
July 4th producing considerable flooding in the Five Points
District...

...Temperatures Near Normal across the Midlands and Central Savannah
River Area...

...Precipitation Below Normal for June and Near Normal for July
across the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area...

...9th Wettest July on Record at Augusta...



.Columbia SC Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for June
2022 was 81.2 degrees or 2.1 degrees above the monthly normal of
79.1 degrees.

The average temperature at Columbia Metropolitan Airport for July
2022 was 82.7 degrees or 0.3 degrees above the monthly normal of
82.4 degrees.

.Augusta GA Average Temperatures...

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for June 2022
was 79.1 degrees or 0.6 degrees below the monthly normal of
79.7 degrees.

The average temperature at Augusta Regional Bush Field for July 2022
was 81.7 degrees or 1.1 degrees below the monthly normal of 82.8
degrees.


.Columbia Rainfall...

Columbia Metro Airport received 2.80 inches of rainfall during
June, 2.17 inches below the monthly normal of 4.97 inches.

Columbia Metro Airport received 6.39 inches of rainfall during July,
1.04 inches above the monthly normal of 5.35 inches

.Augusta Rainfall...

Augusta Bush Field received 3.96 inches of rainfall during June,
0.79 inches below the monthly value of 4.75 inches.

Augusta Bush Field received 9.80 inches of rainfall during July,
5.32 inches above the monthly normal of 4.48 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
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


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


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
Jun            2.80     4.97    -2.17
Jul            6.39     5.35    +1.04

YTD Total     25.75    27.09    -1.34


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
Jun            3.96     4.75     -0.79
Jul            9.80     4.48     +5.32 *9th wettest July on Record

YTD Total     31.41    26.79     +4.62



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

Augusta...

June 20th - The low temperature was 55 degrees. This tied the record
initially set in 1995.

July 7th - A record daily rainfall was set as 5.08 inches of rain
fell. The previous daily record was 4.64 in 2020.

July 10th - A record daily rainfall was set as 2.79 inches of rain
fell. The previous daily record was 1.78 inches in 1894.


Columbia...

June 13th - The high temperature climbed to 103 degrees. This broke
the previous record of 102 set in 1958. This was the first 100
degree day in Columbia since October 4th, 2019. It was also the
hottest day day since July 11th, 2018.

June 20th - The low temperature was 56 degrees. This broke the
previous record of 58 set in 1965.

June 22nd - The high temperature climbed to 102 degrees. This broke
the previous record of 101 set in 1939.




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

June...

Bamberg (BAMS1).....................8.24 inches
Orangeburg 2 (ORBS1)................5.71 inches
Sandhills Research (SADS1)..........5.53 inches
Manning (MANS1).....................5.45 inches
Barnwell 5 ENE (BNLS1)..............5.20 inches

July...

Pelion 0.8 NW (PLNS1)..............12.06 inches
Graniteville 1.2 NE (GNTS1).........8.47 inches
Thomson 1.5 SSE (THMG1).............8.22 inches
Jefferson 0.1 NW (JEFS1).............7.99 inches
Holly Hill 1 SW (HHLS1).............7.78 inches

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 June and July 2022
from our CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow
Network):


June...

SC-OR-22  Santee 6.9 WSW.........8.29 inches
SC-RC-127 Columbia 2.1 NNW.......8.00 inches
SC-LX-35  Lexington 2.9 NE.......7.41 inches

GA-MD-1   Thomson 2.5 S..........2.35 inches
GA-LC-2   Tignall 10.2 NE........1.98 inches
GA-CU-9   Appling 2.0 SE.........1.91 inches

July...

SC-RC-127 Columbia 2.1 NNW......14.54 inches
SC-OR-17  Orangeburg 3.2 NW.....10.33 inches
SC-AK-73  Salley 4.9 NNE........10.14 inches

GA-BK-9   S. Augusta 4.1 S.......8.77 inches
GA-CU-9   Appling 2.0 SE.........7.40 inches
GA-MD-5   Thomson 2.6 S..........7.10 inches



Significant Weather Events for June and July 2022...

June 6th - A weak surface boundary combined with daytime heating
produced strong to severe thunderstorms across the northern
Midlands. A microburst in northern Lancaster county produced winds
between 80 and 100 mph. The winds destroyed a barn, downed trees and
powerlines, damaged a roof. The storm also produced hail up to golf
ball size.

June 11th - Slow moving thunderstorms produced around 1 inch of
rain in 40 minutes over downtown Columbia. This produced minor
flooding along Rocky Branch. The stream crested at 7.38 feet at
Whaley and Main Streets.

June 14th - A remnant MCS produced damaging wind gusts across the
central and southern Midlands along with the Central Savannah River
Area (CSRA). There were several reports of downed trees across
Orangeburg, Aiken and Burke counties.

June 16th - Thunderstorms developed over the southern Appalachians
and along a Lee-Side Trof. These storms developed into an MCS that
produced strong damaging winds, some small hail and locally heavy
rainfall that led to flash flooding. Lightning from the storms led
to 3 structure fires. The heavy rainfall led to flash flooding over
downtown Columbia where 2 to 2.5 inches of rain fell in less than 1
hour. Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main Streets crested at 11.32 feet.
Flood Stage is 7.2 feet. This lead to multiple water rescues from
stranded vehicles, especially in the Five Points District and
additionally in the St. Andrews Road area of Richland County.

June 17th - An upper level disturbance combined with daytime heating
produced strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and
hail. A tree fell on a home in Richland County. There were numerous
reports of trees down in Lancaster County. There were several
reports of trees and power lines down in Newberry County.

June 23rd - Diurnal heating along with an upper level weather system
produced strong to sever thunderstorms across the Midlands. Several
trees were downed in Fairfield County. A microburst downed trees
along a roadway in Calhoun County.

June 29th - Slow moving thunderstorms produced rainfall amounts from
2 to 3 inches on the east side of downtown Columbia. The rainfall
produced flooding along Bluff Road, Shop Road, Beltline Boulevard to
I-77.


July 4th - A very moist and humid airmass combined with strong
daytime heating led to slow moving thunderstorms that produced
locally heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall down produced flash flooding
along Rocky Branch and Smith Branch. Rocky Branch crested at 12.90
feet at Whaley and Main Streets. This is the highest level recorded
since the gage was installed in 2007. Smith Branch crested at 11.38
feet at North Main Street. Rainfall amounts from 3 to 4.50 inches
fell across downtown Columbia an approximately 1 hour. The flooding
led to multiple people rescued from stalled and submerged vehicles.
The rain gage at MLK Park on the north side of the Five Points
District recorded 4.09 inches of rain in 1 hour. A person was struck
by lightning at a home in Columbia, but was treated at the scene.

July 5th - Training showers and thunderstorms over Orangeburg County
produced flash flooding during the early morning hours in the Malibu
Apartment Complex in the City of Orangeburg. Ten units were flooded
with water as deep as 1 to 2 feet. Cars in the parking lot were also
flooded. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rain in
just over an hour. The Sunnyside Canal rose from 0.54 feet o 5.31
feet in 45 minutes.

July 6th - An upper level weather disturbance combined with strong
daytime heating produced strong to severe thunderstorms across the
central Midlands. The storms downed several trees.

July 7th - Thunderstorms developed over the Upstate of South
Carolina and moved to the southeast. The storms produced strong
damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall. There were many reports
of downed trees from McCormick county eastward to Richland County.
Flash flooding occurred in Aiken County near the Savannah River in
the Beech Island Community. There reports of cars stalled in flood
waters and water entering a power plant. A rainfall report from the
power plant indicated that 4.50 inches of rain fell in approximately
1 hour.

July 18th - Slow moving showers and thunderstorms produced locally
heavy rainfall across downtown Columbia. This produced flash
flooding along Rocky Branch and in the Five Points District. Rocky
Branch at Whaley and Main Streets crested at 10.11 feet. Rainfall
amounts up to 1.50 inches of rain fell in less than 30 minutes. The
flooding stranded vehicles along Rocky Branch.

July 24th - A strongly unstable environment produced strong to
severe thunderstorms across the central Midlands. The storms downed
trees and powerlines. There were numerous trees and powerlines
downed in Lexington County in the Gilbert and Leesville
Communities. This led to approximately 3000 home outages.



Hydrology/River Stages...

There were several heavy rainfall events over the city of Columbia.
The rainfall produced widespread flooding in low lying areas of the
city and especially in the Five Points District. The flooding
damaged businesses and resulted in a several people rescued from
their vehicles that became stalled in high water.

June 11th - The stream gage along Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main
Streets crested at 7.38 feet. Flood Stage is 7.2 feet. This was due
to around 1 inch of rain that fell in a 40 minute period.

June 16th - The stream gage along Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main
Streets crested at 11.32 feet. This was due to rainfall amounts
ranging from 2.0 to 2.25 inches that fell in just under 1 hour. (55
minutes)

June 16th - The stream gage along Smith Branch near North Main
Street in the Earlewood Community crested at 8.65 feet. Flood Stage
is 9.0 feet. This was due to rainfall amounts from 2.0 to 2.50
inches that fell in 1 hour.

July 4th - The stream gage along Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main
Streets crested at 12.90 feet. This was the highest recorded gage
reading since the gage was installed in 2007. This was due to
rainfall amounts from 4 to 4.50 inches that fell in 1 hour. This
established a new record crest for the site. The previous record was
12.39 feet on September 25th, 2011.

July 4th - The stream gage along Smith Branch near North Main Street
in the Earlewood Community crested at 11.38 feet. This was due to
rainfall amounts from 3.25 to 3.75 inches that fell in 1 hour.

July 18th - The stream gage along Rocky Branch at Whaley and Main
Streets crested at 10.11 feet. This was due to rainfall amounts of
1.50 inches in 25 minutes.


There were no river flood events during the months of June and July.



Lake Murray Water Temperatures (near surface) at the intake towers
for June and July 2022:

June...
Warmest...84.7 F on the 14th
Coolest...70.9 F on the 5th

July...
Warmest...87.3 F on the 8th
Coolest...78.1 F on the 2nd




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

June...
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB)......40 mph on the 17th
Columbia Hamilton-Owens Field (CUB)..40 mph on the 16th
Augusta Bush Field (AGS).............39 mph on the 14th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE).........37 mph on the 16th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)...........34 mph on the 30th

Lake Wateree (WATS1).................38 mph on the 16th
Lake Murray Towers (IRMS1)...........35 mph on the 3rd
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)..32 mph on the 17th

July...
Augusta Bush Field (AGS).............56 mph on the 7th
Columbia Metro Airport (CAE).........39 mph on the 7th
Columbia Hamilton Owens Field (CUB)..35 mph on the 7th
Orangeburg County Airport (OGB)......32 mph on the 7th
Augusta Daniel Field (DNL)...........28 mph on the 7th

Lake Wateree (WATS1).................40 mph on the 7th
Lake Murray Towers (IRMS1)...........36 mph on the 7th
Lake Murray Flotilla Island (LMFS1)..32 mph on the 24th



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

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. La Nina is favored to continue through 2022 with the
odds for La Nina decreasing into the Northern Hemisphere late summer
(~60 percent chance through September). The chances for La Nina will
then increase through the Northern Hemisphere fall and early winter
2022 (~61-66 percent).

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 .

$$

LCV