WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2008

July 21, 2008 - July 27, 2008

WEATHER SUMMARY:

The mercury climbed to the century mark on Monday and helped fuel strong storms during the late afternoon. National Weather Service observational equipment at Lake Murray recorded a wind gust of 61 mph at 2:50 p.m. High winds snapped trees within the city of Columbia and caused power disruptions. Barnwell measured 2.10 inches of rain. On Wednesday, a southeastward-moving frontal boundary became the lift mechanism for widespread afternoon thunderstorms from Batesburg to McClellanville and Myrtle Beach. Early morning temperatures on Thursday and Friday cooled into the 60's behind the front. A slow return to the hot and humid conditions took place over the weekend. A few upper air features provided passing showers, some with thunder, on Saturday. While much of the state on Sunday observed mostly sunny, mid-summer weather, an isolated storm over the Darlington AP produced a wind gust of 62 mph at 5:23 p.m. Nearing sunset Sunday, the upstate was baking under 97-degree, shade temperatures at both Greer and Hunts Bridge. The state average temperature for the period was one degree below normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 103 degrees at Camden on July 21. The lowest official temperature reported was 58 degrees at Table Rock on the morning of July 24. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.80 inches at Loris ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 24. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.1 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                            
                                                                                                                         
                             Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           0.59   19.39    -10.7
      Columbia           1.15   21.46     -7.6
    Orangeburg           1.12   22.18     -6.9
 Charlotte, NC           0.76   20.94     -4.3          	
   Augusta, GA           1.58   20.80     -6.2
      Florence           1.23   23.82     -2.2
N Myrtle Beach           2.03   27.60      3.4
    Charleston           0.25   21.55     -7.3
  Savannah, GA           2.70   21.94     -6.2





Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL:

4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 81 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 86 degrees.