SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

May 10 - 16, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

A dominant maritime influence controlled the state's weather all week. Southeast to southwesterly winds flowing in from both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico provided warm, sunny days with isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms. On Wednesday, clusters of storm cells moved south to north with heavy rains falling between Orangeburg and Columbia. Although there were no official observation sites, Charleston Doppler Radar estimated isolated amounts of 3-5 inches. Early morning fog on Thursday and Friday reduced visibility to as little as two tenths of a mile at a few locations. Upper 80 degree warmth continued into the weekend along with typical Summer convective thundershowers. Spartanburg County reported three quarter inch hail during a storm Sunday. For the period, the state's average temperature was three degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 90 degrees at Darlington on May 15. The lowest official temperature was 53 degrees at Longcreek on the morning of May 11. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall reported was 2.26" at Columbia AP on May 12. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.3.”

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                     Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           0.03    10.8       -9.1           
      Columbia           2.26    10.5       -7.0          
   Augusta, GA           0.69    11.8       -6.0
        Cheraw*          1.43     8.8       -8.3
       Chester*          0.41     9.6       -8.0
      Johnston*          1.45     7.7      -10.9               NA
        Sumter*          1.27    10.3       -6.3       
       Clemson*          0.21     8.1      -13.3
      Florence           0.17     9.8       -5.7           
  Myrtle Beach           0.00    12.7       -1.8           
     Allendale*          0.97    11.8       -1.6
    Charleston           0.00    13.3       -2.3
      Beaufort*          1.26     9.9       -4.8

* Rainfall totals ending Sunday 7:00 a.m.  All others ending midnight.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 78 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 75 degrees.