SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

July 2 - 8, 2001

WEATHER SUMMARY

For many sites Monday was the hottest day in nearly a year. Afternoon temperatures peaked in the mid 90's. Late day thunderstorms were observed through Wednesday. On Friday, a cool front collided with warm, moist air and caused violent weather along the shoreline of Myrtle Beach. Shortly after 5:00 p.m, a large waterspout formed offshore and landfalled thereafter as a tornado. Rooftops to several hotels and homes were heavily damaged, windows were smashed and at least two tour buses were overturned. Preliminary damage estimates are approaching ten million dollars. A general northwest wind followed over the weekend with isolated thunderstorms and high temperatures easing back to a more normal 90 degree range. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged two degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature was 96 degrees at Columbia AP and Johnston on July 2. The lowest temperature was 61degrees at Walhalla on the morning of July 6. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.54" at Charleston July 3. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.3".

 
                      Precipitation
               Period    2001   Deviation*            Temperature
Location        Total   Total    From Avg.         Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            0.72   19.74        8.5B             89        64                            	              		
Columbia         1.78   19.77        6.7B             96        71
Florence         2.30   17.95        5.1B             90        67	        
Charleston       2.76   23.69        2.3B             92        70   
N Myrtle Beach   2.78   20.54        3.6B             90        66
Augusta, Ga.     0.97   22.69        2.6B             92        66
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                                                                                             
                                                                

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 82 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were near normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 81 degrees.