SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Scattered rainshowers, some with thunder, were observed at the beginning of the week. A cold front during mid-week replaced the tropical air mass with much drier and cooler conditions. On Tuesday night, heavy thunderstorms produced flash flooding in downtown Camden. Early morning temperatures on Thursday, the first day of Autumn, dropped into the upper 30's and 40's over most of the state. Mostly sunny, mild weather followed into Sunday. At week's end the Waccamaw River near Conway was still rising and approaching the historical record flood stage of 13.4 feet set on September 30, 1928. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged five degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 91 degrees on September 25 at Sandhill. The minimum observed temperature was 36 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of September 23. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Conway with 2.94" ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 21. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.1 inches.

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1999   Deviation*           Temperature
Location         Total      Total   From Avg.        Maximum    Minimum   
Greer            0.76       23.0       16.0B            83        43
Charlotte, NC    1.05       24.7         7.9B           82        39
Columbia         1.09       24.5        15.6B           86        43            
Florence FAA     1.70       31.5         3.7B           86        44           
Blackville       0.98       31.0         7.0B           84        38
Augusta, GA      1.73       29.4         6.2B           85        42
Beaufort         1.21       38.9         3.7B           85        53
Charleston       0.61       30.0        12.5B           86        46
Myrtle Beach     1.70       49.8         8.5A           82        46

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                  Degree Days
                     Actual  
                 September 1-26
                Cooling   Heating              
Columbia          221        10
Charleston        260         4
Greenville        208         8

RIVERS AND SURF

Flooding continues on the Little Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 76 degrees.