Drought conditions, due to the sweltering heat and lack of rain, were observed for most of the week. Several rivers and streams across the state are approaching record low flows. Since the beginning of the month west central counties have had a daily average high temperature of at least 100 degrees. Some relief came in the form of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday for eastern sites. A severe storm on Saturday produced a wind gust of 119 mph at McEntire Air National Guard Base in Eastover. Trees were toppled and aircraft support equipment was damaged. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged seven degrees above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 107 degrees on August 14 at Johnston. The minimum observed temperature was 64 degrees at Walhalla and Salem on the morning of August 11. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Dillon with 1.80" ending at 7:00 a.m. on August 15. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.5 inches.
Precipitation
Period 1999 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 0.00 21.0 12.5B 100 69
Charlotte, NC 0.07 20.6 7.0B 96 68
Columbia 0.86 21.7 12.1B 101 71
Florence FAA 0.62 23.7 5.9B 101 69
Blackville 0.20 27.4 5.3B 102 65
Augusta, GA 0.15 24.3 6.4B 103 69
Beaufort 0.18 33.6 0.7A 97 76
Charleston 0.98 22.5 12.1B 96 73
Myrtle Beach 0.87 24.5 9.3B 92 70
*A=Above, B=Below
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY
Degree Days
Actual
August 1-15
Cooling Heating
Columbia 314 0
Charleston NA 0
Greenville 290 0
The Columbia Airport reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 90
degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
Rivers are below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 86 degrees.
sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/weekly/wk081699.html