SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     After an extended period of below normal temperatures, a more summer-like
pattern of rising temperatures, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms developed.
Coastal and southern counties received scattered storms, some with damaging
high winds on Tuesday, June 17.  Afternoon high temperatures on Tuesday peaked
in the middle 90's.  At 4:00 p.m. the Charleston Airport reported a peak heat
index of 101 degrees.  Partly sunny skies and near normal conditions followed
on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, June 20, was sunny and hot.  Afternoon
thunderstorms on Saturday, the first day of summer 1997, produced high winds
and small hail over western counties.  The week ended under mostly sunny skies
and afternoon temperatures in the low 90's. Statewide temperatures for the
period averaged near normal across the upstate and coastal plains to one
degree above normal in the midlands.

     The maximum observed temperature was 95 degrees on June 17 at Holly Hill
and Jamestown and again on the 20 at Williams and the State Climatology Office
in downtown Columbia.  The minimum observed temperature was 51 degrees in
Mullins on the morning of June 16.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at Holly Hill with 1.97" ending at 7:00 a.m. on June 18.
Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.8 inches.

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1997         Deviation*       Temperature
Location         Total      Total        From Avg.     Maximum    Minimum   
Greer            0.94       25.6           0.1B           89        62
Charlotte, NC    0.00       21.9           0.9A           91        64
Columbia         0.44       19.5           4.3B           92        66            
Florence FAA     0.48       18.4           1.9B           93        61   
Blackville       2.14       20.3           3.7B           93        62
Augusta, GA      0.82       18.6           4.5B           92        63
Beaufort         1.59       20.7           1.7B           91        66 
Charleston       1.89       24.6           2.2A           91        62
Myrtle Beach     0.50       23.4           0.5A           88        59
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                   
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday
through ending 7 am Sunday

                       Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                       June 1-22
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia             194        10
Charleston           187         9
Greenville           132        24
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall
is expected to be near normal.
     The Sandhill Experiment Station in north Columbia reports an average
4-inch depth soil temperature of 81 degrees.

    River stages are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and
Savannah will average around 77 degrees.