The weather during the period was influenced by a complex weather pattern that provided anomalously high moisture across the region. At the beginning of the week, a deep area of low pressure located near central Mississippi began to lift north into the Ohio River Valley. East and southerly flow produced heavy rain across the Charleston Metro area. The National Weather Service station at the Charleston International Airport recorded a 24-hour rainfall total on Tuesday of 2.43 inches, breaking the previous daily record of 1.79 inches set back in 1964.
The added moisture kept overnight low temperatures warmer than normal during the middle of the week, with some locations recording minimums at or above 70 degrees. The moisture streaming into the area from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico was caused by a weak area of low pressure off the South Carolina coast and a stalled frontal boundary over Alabama. This set-up created widespread rain, with locally heavy amounts, across the Midlands, Piedmont, and Upstate through Friday evening. There were multiple reports of flash flooding in Abbeville and Anderson counties, where over six inches of rain fell during the period. Other locations reported minor street flooding, such as Berea in Greenville County and Newberry.
By Saturday morning, the offshore low pressure drifted toward the North Carolina coast, and the stationary front to the west began to break down. The steady flow of moisture into the region started to decrease, and most of the state enjoyed a reprieve from the rain. However, some CoCoRaHS observers along the Grand Strand recorded one to two inches of rain. High pressure started to build back into the Southeast on Sunday, providing drier conditions and slightly warmer than normal temperatures.
Another round of King Tides impacted the coast during the period. There were multiple reports of shallow saltwater flooding in downtown Charleston and low-lying areas along the South Carolina coast. The tidal gauge in the Charleston Harbor reached 7.00 ft MLLW on Wednesday morning and was at or above 7.40 ft MLLW during the morning tides through Sunday.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 8.54 | 41.71 | 5.4 |
| Greer Airport | 3.53 | 43.88 | 4.9 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 0.67 | 32.07 | -2.7 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 0.90 | 42.92 | 6.0 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 1.09 | 36.38M | 0.5M |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 0.74 | 48.24 | 12.3 |
| Florence Airport | 0.15 | 37.80 | 0.6 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 0.25 | 40.50 | 1.0 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 3.15 | 53.27 | 9.3 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 1.17 | 43.49M | 3.2M |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. M - denotes total with missing values. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 70 degrees. Columbia: 75 degrees. Barnwell: 69 degrees. Mullins: 69 degrees.
After a week of dry conditions, the pattern shifted back to one conducive for showers and thunderstorms, and most of the state recorded measurable precipitation during the period. The combination of a weak low-pressure system off the South Carolina coast and a slow-moving cold front produced heavy rain in portions of the Lowcountry and Upstate. Rainfall totals ranged from three to five inches in parts of Beaufort, Charleston, and Colleton counties. Widespread totals over four inches were reported in the Upstate, with isolated areas of Abbeville and Anderson counties measuring up to ten inches of rain. A CoCoRaHS observer near Starr recorded 10.44 inches over the seven days. Despite the multiple days with precipitation during the week, parts of the northern Midlands and interior Pee Dee region only measured a quarter to half an inch of rain. The lack of rain in these areas exacerbated some of the current abnormally dry conditions.
During the period, streamflow values varied along the streams and tributaries of the state's rivers. The Upper Santee and Savannah gauges measured much above normal flows due to the heavy rain. With the continued lack of rain in locations along the Congaree and Wateree rivers, some gauges reported below normal flows. Most of the rivers in the state recorded heights below the flood stage during the period.
