Showers entered the Upstate Monday afternoon bringing rain and gusty winds. The line of storms intensified as they slowly marched across the state reaching the coastal counties overnight Monday and into Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning's CoCoRaHS rainfall reports included 1.66 inches at Meggett and 2.45 inches at Parris Island.
Storms were replaced with clear, blue skies and cooler temperatures for most of the day on Tuesday. At 4:00 p.m., Anderson was 77 degrees with 29 percent humidity. Plenty of sunshine on Wednesday pushed temperatures into the 80's statewide. Greenwood reached 83 degrees and Barnwell AP warmed to 88 degrees.
Conditions deteriorated on Thursday as a squall line tracked over the Lowcountry, Midlands and Pee Dee. Weather conditions turned violent and by late Thursday evening 7 tornadoes had touched down in South Carolina. This was the largest 1-day outbreak since 2011. Three EF1-rated tornadoes were reported in Colleton County near Canadys, Hendersonville and Walterboro. Two EF1-rated tornadoes developed in Darlington County near Oates and Hartsville and 1 EF1-rated tornado developed near Holly Hill in Orangeburg County. There was also a confirmed report of an EF0-rated tornado near Patrick in Chesterfield County. Much cooler temperatures and widespread heavy rain were also reported. Walhalla received rains of 2.65 inches and 2.64 inches fell at Table Rock.
The Richland County instruments at Gills Creek recorded a 2-day total ending Friday of 2.60 inches. Blue skies, brisk winds and March-like temperatures dominated the pattern Saturday and Sunday. A weakening cold front tiggered some showers on Saturday. The 40-degree-minimum temperature at Greenville-Spartanburg AP on May 7 was that location's coolest May morning in 6 years (2011).
The highest official temperature was 91 degrees at Dillon on May 1 and 2.
The lowest official temperature reported was 35 degrees at Jocassee on May 7.
The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.95 inches at
Pickens ending on May 5.
The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 1.0 inches.
The state average temperature for the seven-day period was one degree below the long-term average.
| Weekly | Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson AP | 1.02 | 16.56 | 0.6 |
| Greer AP | 0.88 | 21.25 | 4.7 |
| Charlotte, NC AP | 1.39 | 16.55 | 2.1 |
| Columbia Metro AP | 0.95 | 18.08 | 3.9 |
| Orangeburg AP | 1.23 | 15.14 | 0.2 |
| Augusta, GA Bush AP | 0.25 | 16.86 | 1.5 |
| Florence AP | 0.51 | 11.53 | -1.2 |
| N Myrtle Beach AP | 0.74 | 9.65 | -5.0 |
| Charleston AP | 1.29 | 12.71 | -1.2 |
| Savannah, GA AP | 1.24 | 13.45 | -0.4 |
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton 61 degrees. Columbia 67 degrees. Barnwell 62 degrees. Mullins 55 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near normal. Charleston Harbor Custom House reported a water temperature of 74 degrees. The Fripp Nearshore Buoy Station 41033 reported a water temperature of 74 degrees.
