SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

September 25 - October 1 , 2000

WEATHER SUMMARY

Exiting rains before sunrise on Monday were followed by clearing skies and warming temperatures. Sites across the midlands reported highs of 90 degrees or better. A cold front entered the state early Tuesday with thunderstorms and reports of damaging high winds. Temperatures dropped by around twenty degrees. Most stations enjoyed cool mornings and mild, sunny afternoons for the rest of the week. The exception was the north coastal area which observed cloudy, windy conditions and occasional showers over the weekend due to an offshore storm system. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged two degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 93 degrees at the State Climatology Office in downtown Columbia on September 25. The minimum observed temperature was 42 degrees at Salem, York, Hunts Bridge and Walhalla on the morning of September 28. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was reported at Walhalla with 1.76" ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 26. Statewide average rainfall for the period was 0.3".

                                Precipitation
                Period      2000       Deviation*                 Temperature
Location        Total       Total      From Avg.                 Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            0.39        29.0         10.6B                     85         48
Columbia         0.38        32.2          8.3B                     91         48            
Florence         0.34        32.4          3.3B                     91         52 	        
Charleston       0.00        40.6          1.7B                     91         54
N Myrtle Beach   0.33        47.9          7.5A                     NA         53 
Augusta, Ga.     0.93        33.0          3.1B                     89         49
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                                                                         

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

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 75 degrees

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages are nearing normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 74 degrees.