<BODY> <CENTER> <H1>SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE</H1> <H2>September 14-20, 1998</H2> </CENTER> <HR> <b>WEATHER SUMMARY</B> <P> Sunny, dry weather along with warm to hot afternoons persisted into mid-week. A weak tropical circulation offshore spread cloudiness over coastal sites on Thursday. Showers were reported Friday across the eastern half of the state. High elevation counties in northwestern South Carolina, which missed the rains from "Earl" were placed under a Red Flag Alert due to the dry conditions and increased fire threat. Most areas experienced a partly sunny weekend with the exception of southern sections where light showers were observed. Temperatures for the period averaged three degrees above normal. <P> <B>PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA</B> <P> The maximum observed temperature was 93 degrees on September 14 at Orangeburg, Jamestown, Pickens and Beaufort on September 17. The minimum observed temperature was 50 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of September 14. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Beaufort with 2.76 inches ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 20. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.2 inches. <PRE> Precipitation Period 1998 Deviation* Temperature Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum Greer 0.00 41.0 2.9A 88 63 Charlotte, NC 0.00 33.4 1.5A 88 61 Columbia 0.09 41.6 2.2A 89 65 Florence FAA 0.00 37.6 2.9A 92 64 Blackville 0.16 43.1 5.8A 91 59 Augusta, GA 0.00 44.6 9.6A 89 62 Beaufort 3.05 46.7 5.1A 93 64 Charleston AP 0.96 50.6 8.9A 88 66 Myrtle Beach 0.87 52.6 12.2A 88 63 *A=Above, B=Below E=Estimate </PRE> <P> Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday <P> <B>ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY</B> <PRE> Degree Days Actual September 1-20 Cooling Heating Columbia 236 0 Charleston 253 0 Greenville 201 1 </PRE> Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall is expected to be near normal. The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 78 degrees. <P> <B>RIVERS AND SURF</b> <P> Rivers are near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 78 degrees. <P> <HR> <ADDRESS>sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us</ADDRESS> http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/weekly/wk092198.html </BODY> </HTML>