SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

August 20 - 26, 2001

WEATHER SUMMARY

On Monday, the midlands and upstate baked under sunny skies while coastal counties received thunderstorms. High pressure followed with mid-90 degree temperatures, although humidity values did decrease. Many sites reported early morning lows in the 60's during the week. Another frontal boundary entered the state on Friday but brought only isolated thundershowers. With the exception of a few coastal counties, rainfall deficits continue to climb and since January total rainfall has averaged only about 65% of normal Statewide temperatures for the week averaged one degree above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature was 97 degrees at Cheraw on August 23. The lowest temperature was 56 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of August 22. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.30" at Beaufort ending at 7:00 a.m. on August 20. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.3."

 
                      Precipitation
               Period    2001    Deviation*            Temperature
Location        Total   Total    From Avg.          Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            0.02   25.64        9.2B              91        61                            	              		
Columbia         0.00   23.87       11.9B              96        65
Florence         0.00   24.26        7.1B              91        62	        
Charleston       0.53   32.20        5.0B              91        67   
N Myrtle Beach   0.08   27.76        6.1B              88        62
Augusta, Ga.     0.00   27.97        4.3B              96        63
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                   
                                                                                                                   

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 82 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 83 degrees.