SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

May 26 - June 1, 2003

WEATHER SUMMARY

Thunderstorms passed through the midlands and headed towards the coast on Monday. Warm tropical air remained in the area until a front on Wednesday helped clear skies. Morning temperatures in the drier air fell into the 50's and 60's. More wet weather crossed the coastal counties on Thursday while the rest of the state experienced sunshine and 80 degree warmth. Strong southerly winds preceded a cold front on Saturday with 90 degree temperatures ahead of the boundary and isolated severe thunderstorms. Kershaw County reported large hail and high damaging winds. High winds followed the change with most of the state experiencing gusts between 30 and 35 mph on Saturday afternoon. Sunday ended the week with a sunny warm day. The average statewide temperature for the period was three degrees below normal.

The highest temperature reported was 92 degrees at Jamestown and Conway on May 31. The lowest temperature was 46 degrees at Long Creek and Salem on the morning of May 28. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.92" at Cheraw ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 26. 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           0.06    27.5        5.2           80       58       69 
      Columbia           0.60    22.1        3.3           82       61       72 
   Augusta, GA           0.00    24.0        4.6           84       58       71 
        Cheraw           3.20    23.4        4.4           80       60       70 
       Chester           0.03    28.4        8.3           81       55       68 
      Johnston           0.00    23.1        1.9           84       57       70 
        Sumter           0.68    25.1        5.8           81       61       71  
      Clemson            0.08E   29.3        4.7           81       57       69
      Florence           0.25E   20.2        2.8           81       60       71
N Myrtle Beach           0.31    21.7        5.5           79       62       71 
     Allendale           0.00    21.5        2.5           84       60       72 
    Charleston           0.08    20.7        2.9           84       64       74 
      Beaufort           0.28    26.1        9.0           85       67       76 

                       

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the 24-hour period ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 76 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were near to above normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 73 degrees.