SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

April 3 - April 9, 2006

WEATHER SUMMARY

Hail episodes were widespread Monday afternoon when a cold front raced southeastward through the state. Lancaster and Greenwood reported hailstones up to 1.75 inches in diameter. A very dry air mass spread into South Carolina during midweek. On Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., Florence observed an arid relative humidity value of nine percent. Mild conditions started the weekend before a second wave of storms on Saturday turned violent with high winds, large hail and at least two confirmed tornadoes. Williamsburg, Berkeley and Charleston Counties all received golf ball sized hail. Tornadoes caused property damage and power disruptions near the Adams Run and West Ashley communities. Clearing followed on Sunday with sunny, blue skies and afternoon high temperatures in the 60's. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 89 degrees at Witherbee and Jamestown on April 3. The lowest official temperature reported was 34 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of April 5. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.75 inches at Loris ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 9. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.6 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           0.65    7.07     -8.0
      Columbia           0.40    7.41     -6.7 
    Orangeburg           0.33    8.59     -5.6  
 Charlotte, NC           0.20    6.01     -6.9             	
   Augusta, GA           0.89   10.78     -3.5  
      Florence           0.23    5.76     -6.3
  Myrtle Beach           0.76    8.12     -3.7
    Charleston           1.23    7.90     -4.2     
  Savannah, GA    	 0.93    8.10     -3.5









Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 63 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 61 degrees.