WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2011

July 18, 2011 - July 24, 2011

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Seasonal high temperatures were observed on Monday with many locations reporting values matching the long term average. Hot weather returned on Wednesday as a large area of high pressure blanketed the southeast. Johnston reported a Wednesday afternoon temperature of 103 degrees and Effingham reached 101 degrees. At 5:48 p.m., instruments at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach indicated the summer's highest surf water temperature of 85.6 degrees. Thunderstorms blossomed on Wednesday afternoon and brought localized relief to parts of the Upstate and north Midlands. Lugoff measured a rainfall total of 1.50 inches and Gaffney measured 1.26 inches. With little wet weather forcing from within a stagnant airmass, Thursday was dry and very hot. The Marlboro County Jetport recorded 104 degrees. The Charleston peninsula never cooled below 83 degrees on Friday morning. Central South Carolina experienced weekend shade temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. The Columbia Metro AP recorded 104 degrees on Friday and Saturday. The Sandhill Experiment Station measured their highest 24-hour open pan evaporation water loss of the year at 0.49 inches. Only a handful of isolated thunderstorms interrupted the heat. Shaw AFB in Sumter received a welcomed rainfall of 0.63 inches. Most of the state's Sunday daytime was a picture of passing cumulus clouds beneath bright blue skies. Conway noted 101 degrees before heat-breaking thunderstorms arrived. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was six degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 107 degrees at the Columbia USC Campus on July 22. The lowest official temperature reported was 59 degrees at Jocassee on July 19. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.98 inches at the USGS Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in Chesterfield County ending at 7:00 a.m. on July 21. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.2 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                           
                            Precipitation                                                      
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           0.35   25.57     -4.0
      Anderson           0.65   20.18     -7.0
      Columbia           0.23   22.25     -6.3
    Orangeburg           0.00   19.41     -9.2
 Charlotte, NC           0.00   22.34     -2.6
   Augusta, GA           0.00   21.44     -5.1
      Florence           0.01   17.43     -8.1
N Myrtle Beach           0.61   17.20     -6.5
    Charleston           0.05   19.39     -8.8
  Savannah, GA           0.15   21.07     -6.4


Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 84 degrees, Charleston 86 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 85 degrees.