SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

May 9 - May 15, 2005

WEATHER SUMMARY

On Monday, 90 degree temperatures were reported for the first time this season. Strong storms were observed Tuesday evening over central and western South Carolina with large hail and flash flooding from intense rains. Hail, two and one half inches deep, covered the ground in York. Sunny and warm weather continued into Friday before a southward moving cold front brought clouds and thunderstorms. Additional storms developed Sunday ahead of a frontal boundary moving west to east. Orangeburg and Fairfield counties both reported high winds and damaging hail. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 92 degrees at Johnston on May 12. The lowest official temperature reported was 50 degrees at Table Rock and Caesars Head on the morning of May 11. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.25 inches at Springfield ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 11. 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           1.74    15.7       -3.9
      Columbia           0.41    13.5       -3.9       
    Orangeburg           1.14    14.2       -3.4
 Charlotte, NC           1.45    14.7       -1.9	
   Augusta, GA           0.55    17.0       -0.5
      Florence           0.49    11.6       -3.7           
  Myrtle Beach           0.06    11.2       -3.2
    Charleston           0.71    12.7       -2.7      
  Savannah, GA  	 0.02    14.7       -0.7






Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 70 degrees.