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Published on 09/05/18

Georgia wet in the west, dry in the east in August 2018

By Pam Knox

Heavy rainfall across the western half of Georgia helped to keep daytime temperatures low, while nighttime temperatures were a little above normal throughout August. 

Wet conditions early in the month caused problems for farmers trying to do field work, but the precipitation was generally good for most crops. Some hay production was limited until the end of the month when a dry spell allowed many forage producers to make their last hay cutting of the year. Despite the high humidity and rainfall, disease pressure has been low, but it increased by the end of August. Some irrigation was needed for crops in the eastern half of the state where drier conditions prevailed, but most crops were in good condition at the close of the growing season.

Given the low daytime temperatures and relatively high nighttime temperatures, average temperatures were near normal throughout the month. 

No temperature records were broken in August but Brunswick, Georgia, tied their daily high temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit on Aug. 9. This was last observed in 2011.

  • Albany, Georgia, had a monthly average of 82.2 F, 0.2 of a degree above normal.
  • Alma, Georgia, had a monthly average of 82.8 F, 1.5 degrees above normal.
  • Athens, Georgia, had a monthly average of 78.9 F, 0.7 of a degree below normal.
  • Atlanta had a monthly average of 79.7 F, 0.3 of a degree above normal.
  • Augusta, Georgia, had a monthly average of 81.4 F, 0.9 of a degree above normal.
  • Brunswick had a monthly average of 83.2 F, 1.4 degrees above normal.
  • Columbus, Georgia, had a monthly average of 81.2, 0.7 of a degree below normal.
  • Macon, Georgia, had a monthly average of 81.1 F, 0.2 of a degree above normal.
  • Rome, Georgia, had a monthly average of 79.4 F, 0.7 of a degree above normal.
  • Savannah, Georgia, had a monthly average of 82.2 F, 0.7 of a degree above normal.
  • Valdosta, Georgia, had a monthly average of 81 F, 0.2 of a degree below normal.

Two daily rainfall records were set in August 2018. On August 2, Atlanta received 2.26 inches of rain, surpassing the old record of 1.8 inches set in 1909. On August 29, Columbus received 2.41 inches, breaking the old record of 1.5 inches set in 1923.

The highest monthly total precipitation recorded by the National Weather Service was 9.28 inches in Albany, 4.44 inches above normal. The lowest was in Macon with 1.63 inches, 2.47 inches below normal.

  • Alma received 2.55 inches, 2.86 inches below normal.
  • Atlanta received 7.59 inches, 3.69 inches above normal. 
  • Athens received 4.36 inches, 0.83 of an inch above normal.
  • Augusta received 4.28 inches, 0.04 of an inch below normal.
  • Brunswick received 2.03 inches, 4.24 inches below normal.
  • Columbus, Georgia received 7.69 inches, 3.92 inches above normal. 
  • Rome, Georgia received 7.66 inches, 3.53 inches above normal.
  • Savannah, Georgia received 3.14 inches, 3.42 inches below normal. 
  • Valdosta, Georgia received 7.12 inches, 1.78 inches above normal.

 

The highest daily rainfall total from Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network observers was 4.92 inches in Lincoln County on Aug. 1. This was followed by 4.16 inches measured near Sugar Valley, Georgia, in Gordon County on Aug. 2 and 4.13 inches recorded in Fort Valley, Georgia, in Peach County on Aug. 10. For the month, an observer east of Helen, Georgia, in Habersham County reported 11.28 inches, followed by 10.84 inches recorded east of Newnan, Georgia, in Coweta County and 10.65 inches received near Lake Park, Georgia, in Lowndes County.

Two tornadoes were reported in August 2018 in Georgia. One was a brief EF1 tornado which caused damage near Social Circle, Georgia, in Walton County on Aug. 1; the other was an EF0 tornado in Jones County on Aug. 2, which caused damage in the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. There were 16 days in which at least one report of high winds or hail was recorded. Damage from lightning was reported on four days and flash floods or heavy rain were reported on nine days. 

In spite of the significant lack of precipitation in eastern parts of the state, no drought or abnormally dry conditions were reported in Georgia in August 2018. 

The outlook for September shows that warmer and wetter conditions have a slightly increased chance of occurring. For the September through November period, climate predictions continue to lean toward near-normal temperatures based on a combination of the long-term rising temperature trend offset by cooling from the expected El Nino clouds and rain. Precipitation forecasts show an increased chance of above-normal rainfall this fall.

For more information see site.extension.uga.edu/climate/. Follow us at twitter.com/SE_AgClimate and facebook.com/SEAgClimate. Email pknox@uga.edu to share your weather and climate impacts on agriculture.

Pam Knox is the director of the UGA Weather Network and serves as an agricultural climatologist with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Authors:
Pam Knox
Experts/Sources:
Pam Knox
Rainfall during August was heavier than normal over the western half of the state and lighter over the eastern half.
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