Thunderstorms, few and far between, formed during the afternoon hours early in the week. Catawba, in York County, measured 2.87 inches from a downpour on Monday. The convergence of a sea-breeze boundary and weak frontal boundary helped produce a "cloudburst" across parts of Lexington and Richland counties on Wednesday night. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport received 1.98 inches of rain in thirty minutes. The excessive rates of rain caused flash flooding near streams and low-lying, flood-prone areas. The Rocky Branch Creek at Whaley and Main Streets in Columbia reached a peak gage reading of 11.9 feet (4.7 feet above flood stage) at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Seasonal heat and humidity returned on Thursday and continued through the weekend. Friday’s thunderstorms were concentrated over the coastal counties. Hardeeville measured 2.25 inches of rain and the N Myrtle Beach AP received 1.91 inches. Bamberg and McCormick reported high temperatures of 97 degrees on Saturday. Even the state’s Foothills could not escape the heat on Sunday. The Clemson and Greer airports both recorded a maximum shade temperature of 96 degrees. The state average temperature for the period was one degree below normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 100 degrees at Johnston on July 26. The lowest official temperature reported was 56 degrees at Table Rock and Long Creek on July 20. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.77 inches at Columbia Airport on July 22. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.7 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 0.27 26.09 -3.8
Columbia 3.78 24.22 -4.7
Orangeburg 0.13 27.60 -1.3
Charlotte, NC 1.01 27.49 2.3
Augusta, GA 0.05 23.50 -3.3
Florence 0.02 22.84 -3.0
N Myrtle Beach 1.92 21.64 -2.4
Charleston 0.73 28.29 -0.3
Savannah, GA 0.94 31.61 3.7
Weekly rainfall totals this period ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 82 degrees, Charleston 85 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near normal. Ocean water temperatures at the Edisto Buoy were reported at 81 degrees.
