SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Overcast skies on Monday signaled an approaching storm. By early Tuesday the effects of rain and wind were being felt across South Carolina as a powerful gale center was located near the Florida panhandle. As the storm center tracked across southern counties, eventually exiting close to Myrtle Beach, gale force gust were observed from the mountains to the sea. The State Climatology rooftop anemometer in downtown Columbia recorded a peak gust of 64 mph at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday. There were widespread reports of downed trees and limbs which resulted in electrical service disruptions. Heavy rains in excess of 3 inches caused flooding of roadways. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, the apparent circulation center was observed by a lowest pressure reading of 29.04" at Myrtle Beach. Rivers, already under flooding conditions from prior rains, continued to rise in eastern sections. Fair weather followed into the weekend but turned cloudy with scattered showers Saturday and Sunday. Statewide temperatures averaged near normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 68 degrees on February 3 at Beaufort. The minimum observed temperature was 13 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of February 2. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Walterboro with 3.77" ending at 7 a.m. on February 4. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 3.1 inches.

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1997         Deviation*      Temperature
Location         Total      Total     From Avg.      Maximum      Minimum   
Greer            3.02       9.8        4.5A          50           32
Charlotte, NC    1.51       7.3        2.5A          58           32
Columbia         3.45      10.4        4.8A          56           32    
Florence FAA     2.24       7.1        2.6A          59           30   
Blackville       4.68      11.0        5.6A          56           27 
Augusta, GA      2.79      10.3        5.1A          57           27
Beaufort         1.36       9.5        4.8A          68           36 
Charleston       2.06       9.6        5.3A          65           34
Myrtle Beach     4.66      12.0        6.9A          61           33
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                   Degree Days      
                      Actual  
                     Feb. 1-8
                 Cooling   Heating              
Columbia         0         159
Charleston       0         131
Greenville       0         182    

RIVERS AND SURF

River stages are above normal. Several eastern rivers are in flood. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 50 degrees.