SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

September 1 - 7, 2003

WEATHER SUMMARY

Hot, sunny weather was observed on Labor Day Monday with scattered showers late in the day. Mostly sunny conditions continued into Thursday with afternoon thunderstorms across eastern sections. On Thursday, strong storms produced high winds in Saluda, Lexington, Laurens and Richland Counties resulting in power disruptions. A cold front approached the state early Friday and stalled. To the south, Tropical Storm Henri came ashore on Florida's west. The broad circulation around Henri pushed lines of heavy rains into the state's central coast. This pattern continued over the weekend as the remains of the tropical feature exited Florida and passed east of Charleston and well offshore. Temperatures on Sunday were held in the 60's and low 70's due to the cloud cover and northeast winds. The average statewide temperature for the period was two degrees below normal.

The highest temperature reported was 96 degrees at Pee Dee on September 1. The lowest temperature was 55 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of September 7. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.52" at Ft. Moultrie ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 6. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.2.".

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           0.26    53.3       17.7           81       67       74 
      Columbia           3.53    48.3       12.1           83       69       76 
   Augusta, GA           1.57    47.1       14.2           84       69       77 
        Cheraw           0.25E   36.4        1.6           87       66       77 
       Chester           0.19    44.2       10.2           86       65       76 
      Johnston           2.66    42.9        7.1           87       67       77 
        Sumter           1.13    38.3        2.4           86       69       78 		Clemson          0.00    49.0       11.0           86       67       76
      Florence           0.36    35.7        3.6           86       68       77
N Myrtle Beach           0.77    41.6        9.8           83       69       76 
     Allendale           1.52    41.0        5.8           86       68       77 
    Charleston           3.60    43.8        5.6           83       72       77 
      Beaufort           2.00E   46.8        9.8           89       75       82 


             

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

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 81 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were near to above normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 79 degrees.