WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2016

October 17, 2016 - October 23, 2016

WEATHER SUMMARY:

South Carolina experienced another rain-free week that included an abrupt change for the weekend from unseasonable warmth to the usual character of past October's. On a sunny Monday, Bennettsville and Walterboro warmed to 86 degrees. At 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday, the Waccamaw River near Conway reached an all-time record stage of 17.89 feet. After minor fluctuations, the river crested at that same height at 2:15 p.m. and began a slow fall. Personal property flooding above Conway and downstream to the Intracoastal Waterway was extensive. Many riverside decks and docks, private or state-owned, were swept away. Clear skies moved the temperature to 87 degrees at Clarks Hill, Barnwell, Columbia and Charleston. The thermometer was back to 90 degrees on Wednesday at Fountain Inn, Calhoun Falls, Cades and Hilton Head Island. Thursday's high temperature made it to 88 degrees at Anderson, Greenville and Johnston. A cold front began arriving on Friday. Table Rock reported an afternoon high temperature of 70 degrees while a distant Andrews warmed to 85 degrees. Sassafras Mountain cooled to 35 degrees on Saturday morning. At 5:00 p.m., the Greenville-Spartanburg AP, Florence Regional AP and Orangeburg AP all noted sunny skies and 65 degrees. Sandhill and Hilton Head Island were the only sites reaching at least 72 degrees. The state's coldest morning since April 17, 2016, was observed on Sunday. It was 30 degrees at the Pickens County AP. Patchy ground frost was observed near Cleveland. Sandy Springs, Whitmire and Cedar Creek reported a near-freezing 33 degrees. Saluda, Hartsville, Kingstree and Conway all recorded a minimum of 36 degrees. The Sunday high temperature of 73 degrees at McEntire ANG AP and Holly Hill was just a degree below the date's average. Caesars Head Park staff expect "peak" leaf colors for the coming weekend but add that the extremely dry conditions at elevation have resulted in excessive leaf drop, reducing the usual brilliant display. This October's rainfall ranges from 0.09 inches at Fountain Inn to 15.57 inches at Mullins.

The highest official temperature reported was 92 degrees at Orangeburg 2 on October 19. The lowest official temperature reported was 29 degrees at Jocassee 8WNW on October 23. The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 0.0 inches. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was five degrees above the long-term average.

PRECIPITATION:

  Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Anderson AP 0.00 21.13 -14.6
Greer AP 0.00 29.66 -8.9
Charlotte, NC AP 0.00 29.76 -4.7
Columbia Metro AP 0.00 34.19 -3.7
Orangeburg AP* 0.00 39.25 -0.7
Augusta, GA Bush AP 0.00 33.24 -3.5
Florence AP 0.00 55.46 18.9
N Myrtle Beach AP 0.00 53.41 8.7
Charleston AP 0.00 54.74 10.0
Savannah, GA AP 0.00 50.96 9.0

Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
*Orangeburg AP yearly rainfall total adjusted due to instrument failure during Hurricane Matthew heavy rains and wind.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton 65 degrees. Columbia 70 degrees. Barnwell 61 degrees. Mullins 55 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were in flood (Pee Dee/N Coast) and much below normal (Upstate). Charleston Harbor reported a water temperature of 73 degrees. Sunset Beach, NC Nearshore Buoy (NDBC 41024) reported a water temperature of 72 degrees.