SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

September 12 - September 18, 2005

WEATHER SUMMARY

At noon on Monday, Tropical Storm Ophelia was positioned 200 miles east- southeast of Charleston and drifting northwest. Passing rainshowers and gusting winds were observed along the beaches. Ophelia was reclassified a hurricane at 5:30 PM Tuesday. During the day on Wednesday Hurricane Ophelia tracked northward approximately 100 miles offshore, closing to 70 miles between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Winds in Charleston County gusted to 56 mph atop the Ben Sawyer Bridge and at 61 mph in N. Myrtle Beach. Excessive rains fell in both Georgetown and Horry counties. N. Myrtle measured an event total on 6.30 inches. Rapid clearing followed the exiting feature early Thursday. Afternoon temperatures began a steady climb into the mid 90's through the weekend. With the exception of late afternoon thundershowers along the coast on Sunday, inland sites reported hot and dry conditions to end the week. For the period, the state average temperature was five degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 99 degrees at Darlington on September 17 and at Cades on September 18. The lowest official temperature reported was 53 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of September 12. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.22 inches at N. Myrtle Beach AP on September 14. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.2 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
        Greer           0.00    40.3        3.1
      Columbia           0.00    36.6       -1.2  
    Orangeburg           0.09    30.7       -7.0
 Charlotte, NC           0.11    28.7       -3.1	
   Augusta, GA           0.00    37.6        3.3
      Florence           0.00    33.1       -1.4           
  Myrtle Beach           6.34    27.8       -6.2
    Charleston           0.25    33.5       -7.0      
  Savannah, GA  	 0.30    33.4       -6.1












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. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 78 degrees.