The week began with high pressure, centered over Virginia, dominating the U.S. east coast weather. A weak surface stationary front draped along the coast triggered afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Numerous locations along the coast were unable to have an unobscured view of the total solar eclipse due to the coastal clouds and rain. Charleston Air Force Base reported light rain and a 6000 foot ceiling during Monday's solar eclipse. Monday's highest official state rainfall amount, 0.70 inches, fell at the Charleston base after the eclipse.
Elsewhere during the eclipse, the Anderson County Airport reported mostly cloudy skies and a 12,000 foot ceiling. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport observed mostly clear skies, and a temperature drop from 93 to 89 degrees. At the McEntire Air National Guard Base in Richland County, the temperature dropped from 92.7 degrees to an eclipse minimum of 80.6 degrees under mostly clear skies. Monday's high temperature was 96 at the Aiken 2 E COOP observing site following a Monday morning low temperature of 57 degrees at Jocassee 8 WNW COOP site.
Coastal and Lowcountry rainshowers were triggered on Tuesday by the afternoon sea breeze. The Georgetown County Airport reported 0.29 inches of rain. Clear skies and dry conditions prevailed for the Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate. Jocassee 8 WNW again was the state's cold morning spot starting Tuesday at 59 degrees. The Orangeburg 2 COOP observer reported a Tuesday high temperature of 97 degrees.
Clear, hot and dry conditions continued on Wednesday. The high temperature reached 99 degrees at Santuck. A weak cold front swept over the state late on Wednesday and stalled over the coast through the weekend. Only light scattered showers accompanied the frontal passage. A weak surface low developed on the front early on Thursday triggering heavy rain over the eastern counties of the state. The Marion COOP site reported a 3.45 inch rainfall total during a 24-hour rainfall ending on Thursday morning. The Conway-Horry County Airport received 2.19 inches in less than 3 hours after midnight Wednesday.
Clear skies, low humidity and northerly winds dominated Thursday's weather. Late afternoon showers brought 1.48 inches of rainfall to the Williamsburg Regional Airport, 0.58 inches to the Charleston Air Force Base, and 1.22 inches to the Marion County Airport. Thursday's high temperature reached 99 degrees at the Barnwell 5 ENE COOP site.
On Friday morning, low cloud ceilings and patchy light drizzle started the day. Camden's Woodward Field reported 1-mile visibility in fog and a 300 foot ceiling. With a weak stationary front and attendant low pressure center draped along the coast on Friday, shower activity was limited to the southern counties of the State. Charleston Air Force Base received 0.38 inches of rain. The Walterboro 1 SW COOP observing site received 0.24 inches in a 24-hour period ending Saturday morning. Two CoCoRaHS observers, one in Dorchester County and one in Charleston County, reported Saturday morning 24-hour rain totals of 3.87 and 3.90 inches respectively. Friday's high temperature of 99 degrees was recorded at Dillon.
Strong high pressure built in from the north for the weekend. A northerly flow of cool, dry air made for a pleasant, clear sunny weekend for the state. Columbia Metro Airport and Columbia Hamilton-Owens Downtown Airport were 92 degrees Saturday, and again the state's hot-spots Sunday with both recording a high temperature of 90 degrees. Table Rock received 0.04 inches of rain Saturday and the Charleston Air Force Base reported a trace of rain on Sunday.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)
The highest official temperature reported was 99 degrees at Santuck on August 23 and Barnwell 5 ENE on August 24.
The lowest official temperature reported was 57 degrees at Jocassee 8 WNW on August 21.
The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.49 inches at the USGS gage on the Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry on August 23.
The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 0.8 inches.
| Weekly* | Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 0.00 | 36.14 | 7.1 |
| Greer Airport | 0.00 | 37.00 | 5.0 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 0.02 | 34.40 | 6.3 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 0.22 | 36.74 | 5.4 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 0.00 | 27.90 | -4.8 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 0.00 | 34.08 | 3.7 |
| Florence Airport | 1.40 | 31.01 | 1.2 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 3.17 | 32.09 | -2.3 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 1.86 | 36.72 | 2.1 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 1.48 | 41.54 | 8.0 |
| *Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton 77 degrees. Columbia 81 degrees. Barnwell 75 degrees. Mullins 67 degrees
Most South Carolina river stages were below normal to Normal. The Santee at Pineville and the Waccamaw near Longs were much above normal.
Charleston Harbor water temperature: 83 degrees.
Capers Nearshore Buoy (Station 41029): 81.5 degrees.
