SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

July 5 - 11, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

Daily temperatures climbed into the upper 90's during the week as did the frequency of convective thunderstorms. On Monday, evening storms produced hail over Richland, Lexington and upstate counties. Heat index values on Tuesday eased over the 100 degree mark from Beaufort northward along coastal sites. Sunny, clear skies were observed on Wednesday and Thursday due to a boundary of drier air from the northwest. Strong storms returned over the weekend. Florence County reported intense lightning, hail, damaging winds and localized flooding Friday and Sunday. Charleston County recorded 60 mph winds, golf ball sized hail and property losses due to fires from cloud to ground lightning. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 100 degrees at Orangeburg on July 6. The lowest official temperature reported was 60 degrees at Longcreek on the morning of July 8. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.11" at Mullins on July 11. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.5”

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           0.79    18.8       -8.9           91       69       80 
      Columbia           0.21    22.8       -3.4           95       74       84 
   Augusta, GA           0.25    23.9       -1.0           94       71       83 
        Cheraw*         E0.25    14.3      -12.9           98       69       83 
       Chester*          0.14    12.1      -14.3           94       67       81 
      Johnston*         E0.25    22.3       -5.0           97       64       80 
        Sumter*         E0.35    21.6       -4.5           95       74       84 
       Clemson*         E0.40    16.7      -13.5           92       65       79 
      Florence           0.72    14.6       -8.7           94       73       84 
  Myrtle Beach           0.61    18.1       -3.3           91       76       84 
     Allendale*         E0.40    23.2       -1.6           95       72       83 
    Charleston           0.73    18.4       -7.4           95       75       85 
      Beaufort*         E0.30    15.6       -9.1           95       77       86 

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

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 84 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 81 degrees.