WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2008

May 5, 2008 - May 11, 2008

WEATHER SUMMARY:

A sea breeze boundary contributed to isolated, yet strong, thunderstorms, over eastern counties of South Carolina Monday afternoon. Golf ball-sized hail was reported in Sumter County and the Bennettsville Police Department measured 2.18 inches of rain. Daily high temperatures for most of central South Carolina climbed into the middle 80's through the week. A weak frontal boundary crossed the state Thursday evening with scattered thundershowers. While mostly sunny weather was observed well inland, thunderstorms reformed during the day on Saturday across southern sections and near the central coast. Parts of Berkeley County were pelted with up to 1.75-inch diameter hail. A few sites on Saturday warmed to 90 degrees before an area of low pressure brought a round of violent weather and intense rainfalls which began before sunrise Sunday. Edgefield County was hit by 1.75-inch diameter hail and a weak tornado. There were additional storm reports of tornadoes causing damage in Aiken and Hampton County and over both Johns and James Island in Charleston County. The Florence AP noted a minimum barometric pressure of 29.38 inches of mercury at 5:53 p.m. Sunday and the Columbia Metro AP measured west winds gusting to 48 mph. The week ended with a noticeable lowering of temperatures and clearing skies. The state average temperature for the period was four degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 91 degrees at Jamestown on May 10. The lowest official temperature reported was 47 degrees at Walhalla on the morning of May 5. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.30 inches at Edgefield ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 11. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.5 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                            
                                                                                                                         Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           0.81   15.37     -3.7 
      Columbia           1.39   14.78     -2.3
    Orangeburg           3.02   14.36     -2.7
 Charlotte, NC           0.41   13.35     -2.8          	
   Augusta, GA           1.53   15.95     -1.2
      Florence           2.29   15.38      0.4
N Myrtle Beach           1.55   15.04      1.0
    Charleston           1.83   12.52     -2.5   
  Savannah, GA           1.09   12.53     -2.4








Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL:

4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 73 degrees.

For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.