SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

July 24 - July 30, 2006

WEATHER SUMMARY

Thunderstorm cloud tops rising nearly 10 miles above ground level fueled convection and heavy rains Monday evening. A USGS rain gage located near the Lake Murray Dam measured 3.91 inches of rain between 8:00 and 9:00 PM. Afternoon high temperatures in the upper 90's were observed Wednesday through Friday. At 1:00 PM Thursday, McEntire AP near Eastover was reporting 95 degrees while Myrtle Beach with a 15 mph southeasterly seabreeze noted 86 degrees. Localized thunderstorms during the hours of peak heating produced golf-ball sized hail on Mt. Pleasant Wednesday and in both Hampton and Calhoun counties on Friday. Friday's high winds downed trees along Interstate 26 in Laurens, temporarily closing both lanes. Large oaks and pines were toppled in western sections of the city of Florence. Saturday's severe weather included gusting winds that damaged watercraft along Bonneau Beach on Lake Moultrie. A weak boundary neared the state on Saturday with increased clouds, some moderation in the heat and passing thundershowers. Mostly sunny skies, near normal temperatures and isolated thundershowers ended the week. For the period, the state average temperature was two degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 101 degrees at Johnston on July 28. The lowest official temperature reported was 61 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of July 24. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.31 inches at Hemingway ending at 7:00 AM on July 25. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.4 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           0.73   18.86    -11.7
      Columbia           1.87   20.71     -8.9 
    Orangeburg           2.93   22.61     -7.1 
 Charlotte, NC           0.04   20.37     -5.3             	
   Augusta, GA           0.95   21.63     -5.7  
      Florence           1.13   27.19      0.6
  Myrtle Beach           1.69   24.77      0.0
    Charleston           1.61   26.98     -2.5     
  Savannah, GA           2.58   19.02     -9.7







Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 84 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures near Myrtle Beach and Fripp Inlet will average from 83 to 84 degrees.