SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

The first half of the week was mostly sunny and hot. A few thunderstorms were reported across the mountains and into the foothills. Daily afternoon high temperatures ranged from the mid 90's to the low 100's. Florence AP observed a heat index value of 111 degrees at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. A slow-moving frontal boundary neared the state on Thursday and helped in the development of widely scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers. On Friday and throughout the weekend, showers and storms became more numerous as the front became somewhat stationary. Georgetown reported torrential downpours and street flooding from rainfall estimates of 3 to 5 inches. Cloudiness on Saturday and Sunday lowered high temperatures closer to normal. Temperatures for the period averaged four degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 101 degrees on July 20 at Pickens. The minimum observed temperature was 59 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of July 20. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Cheraw with 2.54 inches ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 26. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.1 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1998    Deviation*      Temperature
Location        Total      Total   From Avg.   Maximum     Minimum   
Greer           1.59       36.0      5.1A        96          69
Charlotte, NC   0.98       25.4      0.3A        96          68                                                             Columbia        0.06  32.0          2.3A                96         70    
Florence FAA    0.58       31.8      5.5A        99          70   
Blackville      1.00       34.9      5.4A        98          68
Augusta, GA     0.59       34.0      6.3A        95          70
Beaufort        0.88       37.2      7.8A        96          71
Charleston AP   2.36       40.5     10.6A        94          75
Myrtle Beach    1.81       39.1      9.5A        96          73
*A=Above, B=Below

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                   Degree Days      
                     Actual  
                    July 1-26
                Cooling   Heating             
Columbia          496      0
Charleston         NA      0
Greenville        427      0   

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 84 degrees.