SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     During the first half of the week the weather was mostly sunny and hot.
Afternoon high temperatures rose into the mid 90's.  Rainfall was limited to
a few isolated thundershowers.  Most of the state continued in a dry spell
that has persisted for more than a month. A cold front passed through the
state early Thursday morning.  By Friday morning, September 5, several sites
had observed record low temperatures.  High pressure remained the weather's
influence throughout the weekend and provided nearly cloudless blue skies and
temperatures peaking in the upper 80's to low 90's.  Statewide temperatures
for the period averaged from two to four degrees below normal.  

          The maximum observed temperature was 98 degrees on September 3 at
Johnston.  The minimum observed temperature was 38 degrees at Cedar Creek on
the morning of the 5th.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded
at Allendale with 2.00" ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 1.  Statewide
rainfall for the period averaged 0.1 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1997      Deviation*          Temperature
Location       Total      Total      From Avg.       Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          0.00       34.0         2.4B          92        49
Charlotte, NC  0.00       33.6         3.3A          92        56
Columbia       0.02       29.5         8.3B          94        47            
Florence FAA   0.00       34.3         1.0A          92        49   
Blackville     0.03       35.0         0.9B          97        48
Augusta, GA    0.38       27.9         5.9B          97        48
Beaufort       0.05       33.9         5.6B          92        60 
Charleston     0.16       40.6         1.1A          90        52
Myrtle Beach   0.07       33.5         5.0B          89        51
*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

                       Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                        Sept. 1-7
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia             69       0
Charleston           63       0
Greenville           62       0           
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near 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.

    River stages are below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around
79 degrees.