SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

October 6 - 12, 2003

WEATHER SUMMARY

The week began on a warm note with afternoon high temperatures in the 70's and 80's. A few light showers were also reported. On Tuesday, slow moving low pressure offshore to the east and another system over the Gulf States placed South Carolina in a moist, cloudy and rainy pattern. Clouds and northeast winds reduced temperatures during the daylight hours while the upstate and coastal sites received generous rains. More of the same was observed on Wednesday. Western counties measured up to two inches of rain. Drizzle and fog followed into Saturday before the sun reappeared on Sunday for a nice ending to a wet and gray week. The average statewide temperature for the period was one degree above normal.

The highest temperature reported was 85 degrees at Orangeburg on October 6. The lowest temperature was 50 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of October 12. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall was 3.49" at N. Myrtle Beach on October 8. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.0".

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                Precipitation                     Temperature
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation      Average  Average
                        Total   Total   From Avg      Maximum  Minimum  Average
         Greer           1.07    55.8       15.6           71       59       65 
      Columbia           1.23    50.3       10.0           74       62       68 
   Augusta, GA           0.50    47.9       11.0           76       62       69 
        Cheraw           1.00E   38.2       -1.2           76       62       69 
       Chester           2.07    47.5        8.9           73       58       66 
      Johnston           2.54    46.1        6.1           69       62       66 
        Sumter           0.77    39.8       -0.4           74       61       68
       Clemson           1.70    52.8       10.2           72       60       66
      Florence           0.74    36.7        0.1           75       62       68
N Myrtle Beach           4.75    48.0       10.4           76       60       69 
     Allendale           1.15    43.0        4.1           77       58       68 
    Charleston           0.12    44.8        0.8           78       63       70 
      Beaufort           0.12    47.4        5.3           79       65       72 

             

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the 24-hour period ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 67 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 70 degrees.