SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

August 25-31, 1997


WEATHER SUMMARY

     Mostly sunny weather with cool mornings began the week.  The absence of
rain became more visible in the form of withered, non-irrigated plant life.
Small trees with shallow roots were showing stress.  Afternoon temperatures
during mid-week climbed back into the mid and upper 90's.  Over the Labor
Day Holiday weekend, scattered thundershowers and storms developed almost
entirely east of the North Augusta, Columbia, Florence corridor.  Columbia's
rainfall for August 1997 of 0.22" was the driest of record going back 125
years.  Preliminary rankings for the state indicated this was the fourth
driest of record.  Statewide temperatures for the period averaged one degree
above normal over the midlands and upstate to one degree below normal along
the coast.  

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

     The maximum observed temperature was 100 degrees on August 29 at
Johnston.  The minimum observed temperature was 50 degrees at Cedar Creek on
the morning of the 26th.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded
at Blackville with 2.22" ending at 7:00 a.m. on August 31.  Statewide
rainfall for the period averaged 0.2 inches.

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1997         Deviation*          Temperature
Location         Total      Total         From Avg.       Maximum    Minimum   
Greer            0.16        34.0           1.5B            93        60
Charlotte, NC    0.31        33.6           4.1A            93        64
Columbia         0.06        29.5           7.3B            97        56            
Florence FAA     1.62        34.3           2.1A            95        60   
Blackville       2.22        35.0           0.2B            97        57
Augusta, GA      0.27        27.5           5.5B            94        56
Beaufort         0.03        33.8           4.5B            94        67 
Charleston       0.84        40.4           2.2A            94        60
Myrtle Beach     0.00        33.4           4.0B            94        62
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                   
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday
through ending 7 am Sunday
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                      Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                      August 1-31
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia              451       0
Charleston            454       0
Greenville            369       0           
                                                                                            
Temperatures are expected to average near to below 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 83 degrees.
 
RIVERS AND SURF
River stages are near to below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 80
degrees.

sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us