SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     Scattered showers began the week as a weak front entered the state.
High pressure provided mostly sunny, warm weather through midweek.  A few
usual cold spots reported low temperatures on Wednesday, May 14, in the 30's.
Afternoon high temperatures Thursday climbed into the mid and upper 80's.
Gusting winds over 30 mph combined with the warmth to send open water pan
evaporation rates to between 0.3 and 0.5 inches.  Very isolated thunderstorms
producing hail up to an inch in size were reported in Bamberg and Berkeley
counties Thursday evening.  The week ended with Sunday high temperatures going
into the 90's for the first time this season.  Statewide temperatures for
the period averaged 4 degrees below normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 94 degrees on May 18 at Cheraw.
The minimum observed temperature was 31 degrees at Huntsbridge on the morning
of May 16.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Beaufort
with 1.10" ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 13.  Statewide rainfall for the period
averaged 0.1 inches.

                  Precipitation
               Period     1997   Deviation*             Temperature
Location       Total      Total  From Avg.           Maximum    Minimum   
Greer          0.00       19.1    1.1B                  87       41
Charlotte, NC  0.09       16.4    0.4B                  87       44
Columbia       0.00       15.6    3.1B                  91       44            
Florence FAA   0.03       13.5    2.1B                  90       43   
Blackville     0.21       15.5    2.9B                  90       46
Augusta, GA    0.00       15.2    3.1B                  89       41
Beaufort       1.10       15.8    0.5B                  87       53 
Charleston     0.59       15.8    0.5B                  87       49
Myrtle Beach   0.45       19.8    2.2A                  86       48
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                   
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

                       Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                       May 1-18
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia              34        29
Charleston            59        17
Greenville            27        59
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal. The Sandhill Experiment Station in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 74 degrees.

    River stages are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and
Savannah will average around 71 degrees.