High pressure over the middle Atlantic states provided sunny conditions for most of the week. Late afternoon thunderstorms were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday across west central and southern counties. Storms over Aiken on Tuesday caused damage from high winds and hail. The rest of the state remained dry. High temperatures rose into the mid 90's on both Tuesday and Wednesday but fell back into the comfortable 80's following reinforcing high pressure on Thursday. Early morning low temperatures on Friday and again on Saturday dropped into the low and mid 50's over the western half of the state. Pleasant, seasonable weather was observed through the weekend. Temperatures for the period averaged one degree below normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 98 degrees on August 18 at Blackville. The minimum observed temperature was 51 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of August 22. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Ridgeland with 2.02 inches ending at 7:00 a.m. on August 19. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.4 inches.
Precipitation
Period 1998 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 0.00 38.3 3.8A 89 61
Charlotte, NC 0.40 30.3 1.8A 90 56
Columbia 0.00 36.2 1.0A 94 58
Florence FAA 0.00 34.6 3.7A 94 60
Blackville 0.02 36.8 2.9A 98 55
Augusta, GA 0.01 36.3 4.5A 93 56
Beaufort 0.16 40.8 4.5A 96 72
Charleston AP 0.33 46.0 9.5A 92 66
Myrtle Beach 0.91 45.4 9.8A 88 65
*A=Above, B=Below E=Estimate
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday
through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY
Degree Days
Actual
August 1-23
Cooling Heating
Columbia 338 0
Charleston 351 0
Greenville 283 0
Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall
is expected to be near to above normal.
The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an
average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 80 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
Rivers are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 83 degrees.