Monday began with mostly sunny weather and Walhalla reporting a low temperature of 27 degrees. A boundary passed through the state overnight with periods of heavy rain and a few reports of thunder. Sandy Springs measured 1.43 inches of rain. Southwest winds gusted to 47 mph at the Charleston AP and at the Georgetown AP. West winds gusted to 49 mph at the Rock Hill AP. Fast clearing during the mid-day hours on Tuesday allowed for bright and glaring sunshine over wet surfaces. Eastward-moving rains left Aiken with 1.40 inches and Rimini with 1.38 inches. Much of Wednesday saw cooler air overspreading the state. On Thursday morning, the temperature at Anderson, Greenwood, Sandy Run and Cades fell to 25 degrees. Heavy frost was observed across the Midlands and described for rural locations, "as if it there had been a dusting of snow." A gradual warming trend started on Friday and continued through the year-ending weekend. Rainfall amounts for December ranged from 10.41 inches at Caesars Head to just 0.48 inches at N Myrtle Beach. N Myrtle Beach also noted a 2011 rainfall departure of minus 19.1 inches from their long term average. Holly Hill, Orangeburg, Charleston and the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station reached 71 degrees on a Saturday afternoon warm enough for short-sleeve shirts. The 2012 New Year began with another day of unseasonably mild weather. Andrews and Walterboro recorded 72 degrees. A few light showers passed through the Lowcountry during the afternoon and evening hours but amounts were less than one-tenth of an inch. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was five degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 74 degrees at Barnwell on January 1. The lowest official temperature reported was 19 degrees at Pelion on December 29. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.44 inches at Orangeburg on December 27. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.8 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer AP 1.29 00.00 -0.1
Anderson AP 1.32 00.00 -0.1
Columbia Metro AP 0.76 00.00 -0.1
Orangeburg AP 1.44 00.00 -0.1
Charlotte, NC AP 0.95 00.00 -0.1
Augusta, GA Bush AP 0.84 00.00 -0.1
Florence AP 0.91 00.00 -0.1
N Myrtle Beach AP 0.17 00.00 -0.1
Charleston AP 0.29 00.00 -0.1
Savannah, GA AP 0.18 00.02 -0.1
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 55 degrees, Charleston 57 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 55 degrees.
