SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

May 3 - 9, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

Clearing skies began Monday over the western counties while light showers exited east. Much cooler air followed on Tuesday, due to a late season cold front. A few locations across the higher elevations recorded minimum temperatures at or below freezing. Central sites observed low temperatures in the 40's. Bright, sunny weather continued into the weekend with afternoon temperatures climbing to summer-like conditions. By Saturday afternoon the year's hottest weather was reflected in widespread 90 degree heat. On Sunday, isolated convective thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon hours. Anderson County reported three quarter inch hail. For the period, the state average temperature was near normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 95 degrees at Jamestown on May 8. The lowest official temperature was 30 degrees at Longcreek on the morning of May 4. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall reported was 2.10" at Effingham ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 3. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.0.”

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           0.00    10.7       -8.2           80       54       67 
      Columbia           0.02     8.3       -8.7           83       56       69 
   Augusta, GA           0.01    10.9       -6.2           84       53       69 
        Cheraw*          1.43     8.8       -8.3           83       54       68 
       Chester*          0.41     9.6       -8.0           82       49       65 
      Johnston*          1.45     7.7      -10.9           84       50       68 
        Sumter*          1.27    10.3       -6.3           83       55       69
       Clemson*          0.21     8.1      -13.3           77       50       63 
      Florence           0.56     9.6       -5.3           82       56       69 
  Myrtle Beach           0.37    12.7       -1.2           75       56       65 
     Allendale*          0.97    11.8       -4.6           83       52       68 
    Charleston           0.18    13.3       -1.6           84       60       72 
      Beaufort*          1.26     9.9       -4.8           83       62       73 

* Rainfall totals ending Sunday 7:00 a.m.  All others ending midnight.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 78 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 73 degrees.