Converging boundaries set the stage for heavy rains on Monday that continued through Wednesday. Monthly rainfall totals at May's end ranged from 7.93 inches at Santuck to just 0.92 inches at Charleston City. Fishing Creek Dam located near Great Falls measured 3.85 inches of rain on Monday and McClellanville measured 3.87 inches on Tuesday. Rapidly developing thunderstorms on Wednesday produced localized flooding within the city limits of Darlington and one-inch hail near Loris. A CoCoRahs volunteer weather observer, located 5.2 miles south-southeast of Summerton, measured 6.23 inches of rain during the late evening hours Wednesday and local residents described the cloud to ground lightning as nearly continuous for two hours. Lake Wateree and Johnston reported afternoon high temperatures of 93 degrees on Wednesday and the Georgetown AP and Jamestown noted high temperatures of 91 degrees on Thursday. Most of the state reported drying sunshine on Friday with just a few isolated showers. Drifting thunderstorm cells on Saturday afternoon contained small hail and wind gusts of 60 mph at the St. Stephen Fire Department. The thermometers at Barnwell, Johnston, the Marlboro County Jetport, Givhans, and Jamestown all recorded 95 degrees on Saturday. More hot weather was observed on Sunday. The North Myrtle Beach AP set a June 6 date record high temperature of 94 degrees. Edisto Beach and the Georgetown AP also shared in the 94-degree heat. A mostly dry, slightly cooler air mass entered the northwestern counties Sunday evening with the expectation of less humid conditions. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was five degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 97 degrees at Bamberg on June 5. The lowest official temperature reported was 57 degrees at Jocassee on June 4. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.00 inches at Catawba ending at 7:00 a.m. on June 1. The state average rainfall for the period was 2.2 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 2.40 20.63 -2.3
Anderson 1.24 19.64 -2.0
Columbia 2.22 12.92 -7.2
Orangeburg 2.92 15.52 -4.6
Charlotte, NC 3.33 20.49 1.2
Augusta, GA 0.37 13.63 -6.4
Florence 4.69 16.16 -1.8
N Myrtle Beach 0.08 13.09 -3.6
Charleston 4.04 22.01 3.4
Savannah, GA 2.11 19.24 0.8
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 79 degrees, Charleston 83 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 78 degrees.
