The weather during the period was marked by a shift in the atmospheric pattern, bringing an end to the record-breaking heat across the Palmetto State and moisture back into the region. On Monday, June 3, a high-pressure in the Mid-Atlantic region directed some dry air across the state. The National Weather Service (NWS) stations in the Upstate started in the low 50's, and the Jocassee 8 WNW station in Oconee County recorded a minimum temperature of 52 degrees. Daytime temperatures rose into the mid-90's, which was still above normal for the beginning of June, but lower than the maximum temperatures observed during the heat wave at the end of May. Closer to the coast, afternoon thunderstorms formed near an area of low pressure in the Lowcountry and the 24-hour rainfall totals in Beaufort and Charleston counties reported by CoCoRaHS observers on Tuesday morning ranged from two and a half to four inches. Minimum temperatures across the state ranged from the upper 60's to low 70's, and high temperatures reached the mid to upper 80's. Additional thunderstorms developed in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions. Reports of wind damage and downed trees were made in Charleston, Dorchester and Williamsburg counties, and quarter-sized hail was observed in the same area. The NWS station at the Charleston International Airport recorded a wind gust of 49 mph, and the Marion County Airport measured a wind gust of 62 mph. During the first part of the week, the Charleston Harbor tidal gauge observed an astronomical high tide value of 7.23 ft. mean lower low water (MLLW) on Monday night and 7.45 ft. MLLW on Tuesday night, which caused coastal flooding along the lower South Carolina coast and in low-lying areas around Charleston.
As the high pressure shifted off the East Coast and a low-pressure approached the area from the west, southerly flow returned to the area, bringing additional moisture back into the state. Minimum temperatures for the remainder of the reporting period were five to ten degrees above normal, with lows in the upper 60's to low 70's across the region, while maximum temperatures were closer to normal, with highs in the mid-80's to low 90's. The increased moisture and instability in the atmosphere helped with the development of thunderstorms, especially in Lowcountry and Pee Dee. Pea-sized hail was observed near Jackson in Barnwell County, as well as multiple reports of downed trees in Bamberg, Colleton, Darlington, Florence and Hampton counties. On Thursday, June 6, maximum temperatures only rose to the mid-80's across much of the state under mostly cloudy skies. Afternoon thunderstorms continued to form across the state, dropping heavy rain in some coastal locations such as Charleston which reported some roads were impassable due to standing water. Also on Thursday, the United States Drought Monitor updated the drought designations for the state, introducing D2 (severe drought) into the Lowcountry, and the South Carolina Drought Response Committee convened a call to address the current drought conditions in the 46 counties within the state.
With mostly cloudy skies on Friday, many high temperatures struggled to reach the mid-80's, and cooler than normal maximum temperatures continued through the weekend. Due to southerly flow, more moisture was funneled into the region, creating an environment for increased rainfall across the state. Severe thunderstorms pushed through the Lowcountry and Midlands during Friday evening and caused downed trees and power lines. Lightning struck two homes in Beaufort County, one in Bluffton and one on Parris Island, causing minor structural damage to both dwellings. Many CoCoRaHS 24-hour rainfall totals ending on Saturday morning were between five and eight inches in portions of Lexington and Richland counties. As the day progressed, another round of severe weather impacted portions of the Midlands, producing strong winds and intense downpours, and heavy rains caused flash flooding issues in areas of the Upstate. The weather was on a repeat for Sunday, June 9, as more thunderstorms developed and caused heavy rainfall in parts of the state, helping to alleviate some of the dry conditions observed during the end of May. There was a report of a funnel cloud near Aiken, and a 46-mph wind gust was measured in Jackson, SC.
The unsettled and wet weather pattern continued into the beginning of the new work week.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 2.82 | 21.66 | 2.3 |
| Greer Airport | 3.84 | 24.88 | 4.4 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 2.12 | 23.60 | 5.5 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 6.03 | 17.74 | -0.1 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 0.72M | 11.89 | -7.2 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 3.19 | 17.67 | -1.2 |
| Florence Airport | 2.39 | 15.73 | -1.0 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 3.24 | 14.85 | -3.9 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 3.40 | 11.11 | -6.7 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 4.06 | 14.73 | -3.2 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. M - denotes total with missing values. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 74 degrees. Columbia: 76 degrees. Barnwell: 71 degrees. Mullins: 71 degrees.
The combination of excessive heat, sunshine and lack of precipitation exacerbated dry conditions across the state at the end of May, prompting moderate drought conditions in the Lowcountry, Midlands and Upstate. Despite the dry start to the seven days, it ended with excessive rainfall totals reported across portions of the Palmetto State. Most locations in the state recorded at least two inches of rainfall, though isolated areas observed over six inches with most of that falling over the weekend. The precipitation eased some of the dry conditions but given the intensity of the rainfall and dry soil, most of the water ran-off and caused flash flood situations in portions of the state. Due to the excessive rainfall, some of the streamflow values across the Midlands and Upstate rose quickly over the weekend, and some rivers were forecast to rise to near minor flood stage, including the Congaree and Wateree. The streamflow values in areas of the Lowcountry and Pee Dee that missed out on the heavy rain remained at normal to below normal. The year-to-date rainfall totals in the Upstate remained well above normal for this time of year, with more than 20 inches reported at many locations and over 40 inches in some of the more mountainous areas. Fifteen to twenty inches of rain have fallen since the beginning of the year in the Midlands, but even after the rain this weekend, the Central Savannah River Area is close to four inches below normal. The Lowcountry and Pee Dee continue to be the driest parts of the state, with between ten and fifteen inches of rain for the year in areas from the Interstate 95 corridor to the coast. These totals are six to eight inches below normal for this time of year in these regions, and rainfall totals for portions of those counties are running close to ten inches below normal.
Charleston Harbor (CHTS1): 81.9 degrees.
Capers Nearshore Buoy (Station 41029): 80.2 degrees.
Fripps Nearshore Buoy (Station 41033): 81.1 degrees.
