SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     Partly cloudy conditions with scattered thunderstorms were reported
early in the period.  By mid-week high pressure spread into South Carolina
with mostly sunny skies and afternoon temperatures rising into the upper 90s.
On Thursday, July 3, temperatures at several sites broke the 100 degree mark.
The 4th of July celebration was held under sunny skies and sweltering heat.
At 4:00 P.M. the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station reported a peak heat index
value of 120 degrees.  Early evening thunderstorms produced hail and high
winds over the upstate and midlands.  A frontal boundary helped fuel severe
thunderstorms over eastern sections on Saturday in the form of hail, intense
lightning and high winds.  The week ended with slightly cooler weather and
isolated thunderstorms Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 1 to 2
degrees above normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 106 degrees on July 4 at Johnston.
The minimum observed temperature was 58 degrees in Salem on the morning of
July 4.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Rimini with
1.49" ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 3.  Statewide rainfall for the period
averaged 0.7 inches.

                 Precipitation
                Period     1997         Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total      Total         From Avg.       Maximum   Minimum   
Greer           0.02       27.1          0.8B            97        63
Charlotte, NC   0.32       23.7          0.7B            98        69
Columbia        0.12       21.2          4.9B            101       69            
Florence FAA    2.13       20.9          1.7B            98        67   
Blackville      0.80       24.9          0.7B            100       66
Augusta, GA     0.07       19.8          5.2B            100       67
Beaufort        0.38       22.9          2.4B            96        71 
Charleston      1.08       30.7          5.2A            97        69
Myrtle Beach    0.1        25.5          0.1B            90        68
*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 1-30

                    Cooling   Heating

Columbia            317          10

Charleston          30            9

Greenville          227          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 87 degrees.

    River stages are near to below normal.

    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 81
degrees.