SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

May 24 - 30, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

The last full week of May felt like mid-summer with hot days and scattered thundershowers. Coverage of rain producing events increased over the southern Midlands and highest elevations but was absent over most of the state. All sites continue to report below normal rainfall. Near 100 degree heat combined with gusting winds to further accelerate evaporation and drying of top soils. Outdoor recreation was favorable through the Memorial Holiday weekend with mostly sunny days and mild mornings. For the period, the state average temperature was six degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 98 degrees at Cheraw, Chesterfield and Darlington on May 25. The lowest official temperature reported was 58 degrees at Longcreek on the morning of May 25. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall reported was 2.10" at Longcreek on May 31. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.1.”

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                         Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           0.11    11.6       -9.6           87       68       78 
      Columbia           0.11    12.2       -6.9           91       71       81 
   Augusta, GA           0.32    12.5       -6.6           92       68       80 
        Cheraw*          0.00     9.1       -9.0           93       72       83 
       Chester*          0.00    10.9       -9.1           92       66       79 
      Johnston*          0.00    12.2       -8.8           95       68       82 
        Sumter*          0.00    12.6       -6.5           92       72       82
       Clemson*          0.00    11.5      -13.0           90       70       80 
      Florence           0.75    10.5       -6.6           92       71       80 
  Myrtle Beach           0.98    13.7       -2.2           88       72       80 
     Allendale*          0.00    14.5       -4.3           95       69       82 
    Charleston           0.20    13.5       -4.0           94       73       84 
      Beaufort*          0.00    11.4       -5.5           94       75       84 

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

 

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 80 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 76 degrees.