SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

April 27-May 3, 1998


WEATHER SUMMARY

After a warm, sunny start on Monday, cloudy weather settled into the state on Tuesday. Northeast winds lowered afternoon temperatures from the low 80's to the low 70's. Heavy rainshowers were reported on Thursday along the frontal boundary. Warm southwesterly winds and mostly sunny skies returned for Friday and Saturday. An approaching cold front Sunday collided with the moist, unstable air resulting in thunderstorms, large hail and high winds. Both Oconee and Pickens counties reported baseball size hail. The week ended wet with needed drying. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged 2 degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 85 degrees on May 3 at Cades, Williams and Jamestown. The minimum observed temperature was 36 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of May 2. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Calhoun Falls with 2.87" ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 1. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.9 inches.

               Precipitation
                Period     1998      Deviation*        Temperature
Location        Total      Total      From Avg.    Maximum      Minimum   
Greer           1.79       27.6       9.4A         76           46
Charlotte, NC   0.86       18.8       3.8A         79           45 
Columbia        0.87       23.8       6.8A         83           51    
Florence FAA    1.15       23.2       9.3A         83           50   
Blackville      0.75E      25.2E      8.8AE        80           47 
Augusta, GA     0.83       28.0       11.4A        81           49
Beaufort        1.31       28.3       14.0A        81           58 
Charleston      1.28       28.4       14.3A        83           55
Myrtle Beach    0.00       30.3       14.8A        82           52
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
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  
                   April 1-30  
                Cooling   Heating             
Columbia          39        102
Charleston        72        66 
Greenville        16        193   
Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall is expected to be near normal.
The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 68 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are above normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 67 degrees.


sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us
http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/weekly/wk050498.html