Bermuda type high pressure provided cooler, onshore winds early in the week. Afternoon thundershowers focused along coastal counties. Strong thunderstorms and heavy downpours were reported across eastern sections on Thursday and Friday providing much needed wet weather coverage to drought plagued areas. High heat returned over the weekend along with the humidity. On Sunday at 3:00 p.m., Florence observed a heat index value of 111 degrees. Late evening storms, moving north to south from the upstate, replaced the heat with hail, damaging high winds and drenching rains. Although the drought status was upgraded to moderate on Tuesday, July 14, the overall soil moisture condition showed improvement by the week's end. Temperatures for the period averaged one degree above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 102 degrees on July 18 at Sandy Springs and Cedar Creek. The minimum observed temperature was 56 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of July 14. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Hunts Bridge with 4.40 inches ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 17. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.3 inches.
Precipitation
Period 1998 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 1.46 34.4 4.5A 97 67
Charlotte, NC 0.07 24.2 0.0A 97 65
Columbia 3.36 31.9 3.5A 97 65
Florence FAA 0.78 31.2 6.2A 97 65
Blackville 3.56 33.9 5.4A 93 63
Augusta, GA 1.88 33.4 6.7A 95 63
Beaufort 2.14 36.2 8.4A 96 73
Charleston AP 1.32 38.1 9.7A 94 69
Myrtle Beach 0.98 37.3 9.1A 88 72
*A=Above, B=Below
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday
through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY
Degree Days
Actual
July 1-19
Cooling Heating
Columbia 356 0
Charleston NA 0
Greenville 313 0
Temperatures are expected to average near to above normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal.
The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an
average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 85 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
Rivers are near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 82 degrees.