After a warm, sunny start on Monday, cloudy weather settled into the state on Tuesday. Northeast winds lowered afternoon temperatures from the low 80's to the low 70's. Heavy rainshowers were reported on Thursday along the frontal boundary. Warm southwesterly winds and mostly sunny skies returned for Friday and Saturday. An approaching cold front Sunday collided with the moist, unstable air resulting in thunderstorms, large hail and high winds. Both Oconee and Pickens counties reported baseball size hail. The week ended wet with needed drying. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged 2 degrees below normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 85 degrees on May 3 at Cades, Williams and Jamestown. The minimum observed temperature was 36 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of May 2. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Calhoun Falls with 2.87" ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 1. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.9 inches.
Precipitation Period 1998 Deviation* Temperature Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum Greer 1.79 27.6 9.4A 76 46 Charlotte, NC 0.86 18.8 3.8A 79 45 Columbia 0.87 23.8 6.8A 83 51 Florence FAA 1.15 23.2 9.3A 83 50 Blackville 0.75E 25.2E 8.8AE 80 47 Augusta, GA 0.83 28.0 11.4A 81 49 Beaufort 1.31 28.3 14.0A 81 58 Charleston 1.28 28.4 14.3A 83 55 Myrtle Beach 0.00 30.3 14.8A 82 52 *A=Above, B=BelowNote: 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 April 1-30 Cooling Heating Columbia 39 102 Charleston 72 66 Greenville 16 193Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall is expected to be near normal.
RIVERS AND SURF
Rivers are above normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 67
degrees.