A weakening, stationary frontal boundary draped across the state triggered widespread afternoon thunderstorm activity to start the week. Counties from the Midlands to the coast received afternoon thunderstorms and rain. The Aiken 2 E COOP site reported a 24-hour rainfall total of 1.93 inches that fell during Monday's storms.
Strong high pressure began to build in from the east on Tuesday. Subsidence and dry air aloft raised high temperatures, limiting cloud cover and afternoon thunderstorm activity. Thunderstorms that did form were isolated, slow-moving cells. On Thursday, the Columbia Metro Airport and the Marlboro County Jetport both reported a Wednesday afternoon high of 96 degrees and a morning low of 77 degrees. The COOP observer in Santuck reported Thursday's and Friday's high temperature of 99 degrees.
A frontal boundary became stationary just north of the South Carolina-North Carolina border for the weekend as high pressure weakened slightly eastward. Strong afternoon thunderstorm produced heavy rains and damaging winds onSaturday and Sunday. The Marlboro County Jetport and the Anderson County Airport observed wind gusts of 58 and 54 mph, respectively, on Saturday. The Walterboro COOP observer reported a Sunday rainfall amount of 3.91 inches. Slow moving thunderstorms on Sunday caused road flooding in Columbia. Four people were injured by a lightning strike on the Isle of Palms.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)
The highest official temperature reported was 99 degrees at Santuck on July 13 and 14, and Pelion 4 N on July 15.
The lowest official temperature reported was 62 degrees on Sassafras Mountain on July 16.
The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.02 inches at Johnston on July 16.
The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 1.8 inches.
| Weekly | Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson AP | 2.56 | 33.21 | 9.2 |
| Greer AP | 1.00 | 32.73 | 7.2 |
| Charlotte, NC AP | 0.74 | 28.67 | 6.2 |
| Columbia Metro AP | 3.36 | 33.61 | 9.8 |
| Orangeburg AP | 2.15 | 23.01 | -2.7 |
| Augusta, GA Bush AP | 2.67 | 27.41 | 3.0 |
| Florence AP | 0.85 | 23.56 | 1.0 |
| N Myrtle Beach AP | 0.79 | 18.21 | -6.8 |
| Charleston AFB | 3.35 | 25.44 | 0.1 |
| Savannah, GA AP | 0.13 | 33.79 | 8.9 |
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton 78 degrees. Columbia 82 degrees. Barnwell 76 degrees. Mullins 70 degrees.
Most South Carolina river stages were normal. Several northern Midlands rivers were below normal.
Charleston Harbor water temperature: 86 degrees.
Fripp Nearshore Buoy (Station 41033): 82.4 degrees.
