The outermost rain bands from a weakening Tropical Storm Debby, located along the Florida panhandle, eased northward into the Lowcountry on Monday with a few localized heavy rains. The Charleston City gage measured 2.78 inches while the Sullivan's Island gage measured 2.67 inches. Coastal wind speeds between the distant tropical feature and strong high pressure expanding southeast reached 40 mph at Springmaid Pier and at Folly Island, on Tuesday. A drying and cooler airmass entered the state overnight. On Wednesday morning, date record low temperatures were set at Florence (58), N Myrtle Beach (58) and Charleston AP (62). At 4:00 p.m., both the Greenville-Spartanburg AP and Shaw AFB reported a relative humidity value of just 23 percent. The mercury reversed its direction on Thursday with many locations warming into the upper 90's. At 7:00 p.m., the Columbia Metro AP reported 98 degrees with only 18 percent relative humidity. Friday's rare desert-like climate set the stage for record high temperatures for parts of the Midlands and Upstate. Both the University of South Carolina campus and Johnston observed 113 degrees, which may qualify as a new state record. The Columbia Hamilton-Owens AP baked under an afternoon high temperature of 110 degrees. The Columbia Metro AP recorded 109 degrees for that location's highest temperature of recordkeeping. Other notable maximum temperatures on Friday included 109 at Sandhill, 108 at McCormick, 107 at Shaw AFB and Little Mountain, 106 at Bishopville and Darlington, and 105 at Anderson AP and Florence. The Sandhill Experiment Station measured a 24-hour open pan evaporation water loss of 0.45 inches. At 6:00 p.m., the Columbia Metro AP noted 108 degrees with just 15 percent relative humidity. The discomfort of the heat did not abate on Saturday as more water vapor was introduced into the air. Saturday's afternoon temperatures climbed to 108 at Clarks Hill, 107 at Barnwell, 106 at Hartsville and 105 at Pinopolis. June 2012 ended with a rainfall range of 11.38 inches at Givhans Ferry to 1.24 inches at the Greenville-Spartanburg AP. More sweltering heat was observed into the afternoon hours of Sunday. Clinton reached 109 degrees. Saluda reported 108 degrees and the Clemson AP 107 degrees. The Greenville-Spartanburg airport's 107 degrees marked that value as their all-time record highest. Heat-cancelling thunderstorms developed over the northern counties during the afternoon hours and moved southeast. Most of the storm cells contained hailstones. The counties of Spartanburg, Chesterfield, Edgefield, Lexington, McCormick, Bamberg and Williamsburg all reported hail sizes of 1.75 inches in diameter and at least 2.00-inch diameter stones pummeled Pageland and Gilbert. The 4:55 p.m. temperature of 99 degrees at Shaw AFB in Sumter fell to 77 degrees at 5:55 p.m. following a thunderstorm. Storm cells over the McEntire ANG AP soaked the area with 2.34 inches. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was three degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 113* degrees at Johnston and the University of South Carolina Campus on June 29. The lowest official temperature reported was 51 degrees at Cedar Creek on June 27. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.67 inches at Charleston City ending at 7:00 a.m. on June 26. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.8 inches.
*Preliminary South Carolina state record highest temperature pending a joint review by Columbia National Weather Service Office, the SC State Climatology Office, the National Weather Service Eastern Region, the NOAA Regional Climate Centers and the National Climatic Data Center.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer AP 0.37 16.61 -6.8
Anderson AP 1.54 17.28 -5.0
Columbia Metro AP 1.30 18.90 -2.5
Orangeburg AP 1.03 21.11 -1.8
Charlotte, NC AP 0.00 16.08 -4.7
Augusta, GA Bush AP 0.01 13.30 -9.1
Florence AP 0.92 21.89 1.8
N Myrtle Beach AP 0.37 14.73 -7.5
Charleston AP 2.24 22.59 0.4
Savannah, GA AP 0.64 20.32 -2.1
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 83 degrees, Charleston 86 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 81 degrees.
