SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     Near normal summer weather with afternoon thunderstorms and high
temperatures in the 90's was reported on both Monday and Tuesday.  For the
second week in a row an early season cool air mass spread over the state on
Wednesday.  Preceding it's arrival, strong thunderstorms developed and
produced scattered hail and wind damage.  Thursday was much cooler as high
temperatures  remained in the 80's.  On Friday morning, low temperatures fell
into the 50's and 60's.  Partly sunny skies were observed on Saturday as the
frontal boundary began to weaken across southern counties.  Rainshowers
developed during midday on Sunday with warmer, moist air returning.
Statewide temperatures for the period averaged around three degrees below
normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 95 degrees on August 5 at Allendale
and Cheraw.  The minimum observed temperature was 55 degrees at Walhalla on
the morning of the 6th and Cedar Creek on the morning of the 8th.  The
heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Mullins with 2.50" ending
at 7:00 a.m. on August 5.  Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.6
inches.

                   Precipitation

                  Period     1997      Deviation*          Temperature
Location          Total      Total      From Avg.      Maximum      Minimum   
Greer              0.04       33.1        0.2A         90           62
Charlotte, NC      0.68       33.3        6.2A         92           63
Columbia           0.10       29.4        3.3B         93           63         
Florence FAA       1.32       30.3        1.6A         92           61   
Blackville         0.17       29.8        3.2B         94           60
Augusta, GA        0.25       25.7        4.2B         92           60
Beaufort           0.00       29.8        2.2B         93           69 
Charleston         0.65       38.8        5.4A         91           64
Myrtle Beach       2.07       33.3        0.6A         86           61

*A=Above, B=Below
                                   
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday
through ending 7 am Sunday

                       Degree Days      
                          Actual  
                       August 1-10
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia            119       0
Charleston          124       0
Greenville           92       0           
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.  Rainfall
is expected to be near normal.  The Sandhill Research and Education Center in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 85 degrees.

River stages are near normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 80
degrees.