SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

August 14 - August 20, 2006

WEATHER SUMMARY

Early morning temperatures on Monday cooled into the 60's before beginning a warming trend with high temperatures peaking in the mid 90's on Wednesday. A tropical disturbance formed on a nearly stationary boundary offshore of South Carolina beaches Wednesday afternoon and began drifting southwestward. At 11:30 AM Thursday, the weak circulation was 70 miles east-southeast of Charleston. East winds of 23 mph, gusting to 29 mph, were observed at the Waterfront Park in Charleston. A few light showers brushed the coast. Bright blue skies, fair weather cumulus clouds and 80 degree warmth was observed across most of the state on Friday and Saturday. The heat and humidity returned Sunday ahead of strong thunderstorms at sunset for the Midlands. Lightning was described as continuous with localized downpours causing flooding in areas of poor drainage. A Climatology Office rain gage at Singleton in Calhoun County measured 2.95 inches of rain Sunday night. For the period, the state average temperature was one degree above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 96 degrees at Jamestown and Givhans on August 16. The lowest official temperature reported was 60 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of August 14. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.50 inches at Columbia Owens AP on August 20. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.3 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                           
                           Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           0.11   20.53    -12.8
      Columbia           2.23   24.78     -8.6 
    Orangeburg           0.26   25.34     -8.0 
 Charlotte, NC           1.94   25.64     -2.5             	
   Augusta, GA           1.45   24.47     -5.9  
      Florence           0.00   31.32      1.0
  Myrtle Beach           0.02   25.66     -2.8
    Charleston           0.15   28.62     -5.4     
  Savannah, GA     	 0.44   21.00    -12.7





Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 81 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures near Myrtle Beach and Fripp Inlet will average from 82 to 83 degrees.