WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2011

May 9, 2011 - May 15, 2011

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Much like typical May weather, the week started with cool mornings and warm afternoons. High temperatures on Tuesday climbed to 90 degrees for Clemson and Greenwood. A complex convective system charged into the state from the northwest Tuesday night and into Wednesday evening. A widespread and damaging hail event developed for parts of the Piedmont and eastward to the central coast. At 2:39 a.m. on Wednesday, Wilmington NWS Doppler radar indicated storm cells moving southeast at 55 mph. The Rock Hill AP measured winds gusting to 62 mph. Hail up to the size of softballs pummeled the community of Sampit, in Georgetown County, Conway, in Horry County and near Hanna, in Florence County. At 5:55 p.m., the crossroads at Evergreen observed baseball-sized hail that covered the ground. Brief periods of intense rain left 1.59 inches at Lake Wylie and 1.43 inches at the Georgetown AP. More stable weather returned for Thursday under sunny skies and 88 degrees reported at Clarks Hill and Saluda. Although Walterboro warmed to 91 degrees on Friday, more thundershowers formed across the southern counties in the lingering, tropical-like airmass. Saturday's weather included mid-day thunderstorms for parts of central South Carolina and another round of large hail at Socastee. The Columbia Hamilton-Owens AP received 1.02 inches of rain. The exiting stormy weather was replaced by mostly sunny, cool conditions on Sunday. McCormick, Florence and Charleston City all recorded an 81-degree Sunday afternoon high temperature. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 94 degrees at Lake Wateree, Hardeeville and the USC Campus on May 10 and at Bamberg and Barnwell on May 13. The lowest official temperature reported was 50 degrees at Walhalla on May 15. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.22 inches at the Myrtle Beach FD ending at 7:00 a.m. on May 11. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                             Precipitation                                                     
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           0.15   17.66     -2.0
      Anderson           0.01   14.49     -4.5
      Columbia           0.40   14.44     -3.0
    Orangeburg           0.56   14.19     -3.2
 Charlotte, NC           0.85   14.34     -2.3
   Augusta, GA           0.08   14.03     -3.5
      Florence           0.78   13.47     -1.9
N Myrtle Beach           2.74   13.62     -0.8
    Charleston           0.25   10.18     -5.2
  Savannah, GA           0.02   11.69     -3.7
                                              
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 74 degrees, Charleston 78 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 74 degrees.