SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

A deep surface flow of tropical moisture set the stage for rains on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Heavy rainfall rates on Tuesday produced flash flooding across the upstate and central coastal counties. A tornado was reported on Wednesday evening in Darlington County causing damage to several mobile homes. While the wet weather helped improve dry conditions over western sites, it slowed recovery efforts over the flooded Waccamaw River basin. A cold front cleared the state on Thursday bringing in much cooler temperatures and sunny skies. Friday morning minimum temperature readings fell into the upper 30's and 40's. A slow warming trend under mostly sunny skies was observed over the weekend with Sunday afternoon temperatures peaking in the mid-80's. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged near normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 89 degrees on October 3 at Orangeburg. The minimum observed temperature was 38 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of October 1. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Charleston AP with 4.96" on September 28. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 2.1 inches.

                     Precipitation
                    Period       1999         Deviation*    Temperature
Location             Total       Total         From Avg.  Maximum   Minimum   
Greer                 1.79       24.8          15.1B        79        47
Charlotte, NC         1.44       26.2           7.1B        80        46
Columbia              1.24       25.7          14.8B        86        45            
Florence FAA          1.68       33.1           2.7B        84        49           
Blackville            0.98       31.0           7.0B        84        38
Augusta, GA           2.40       31.8           4.4B        86        46
Beaufort              1.02       39.9           3.6B        86        56
Charleston            6.08       36.0           7.3B        85        52
Myrtle Beach          2.11       49.8           8.5A        80        51

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 temperatures: Clemson 72 degrees. Columbia 74 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Flooding continues on the Little Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 75 degrees.