Cloudy, cool weather was observed the first few days of the week .
Light showers were reported on Monday, February 10. Wednesday was a mostly
sunny day with afternoon high temperatures in the mid 50's.  Thursday was a
return to cloudy skies as low presure approached from the Gulf of Mexico.
With upstate surface temperatures at freeezing Thursady morning, a mixture
of freezing rain and sleet or snow began around daybreak.  Throughout the
day, icing was reported across the mountains and foothills. Sites east and
south received periods of heavy rainfall.  A brief clearing occurred on Fri-
day but was quickly followed by another round of heavy rainshowers which
lasted into Saturday morning.  Rainfall totals for the combined events were
in the 2 to 4 inch range.  Dry, mostly sunny weather ended the week.
Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 5 degrees below normal.

          The maximum observed temperature was 64 degrees on February 13 at
Charleston City.  The minimum observed temperature was 19 degrees at Cedar
Creek on the morning of February 12.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at Williams with 2.51" ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 15.
Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 2.5".
        
               Precipitation
                Period     1997    Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total      Total    From Avg.       Maximum  Minimum   
Greer           2.17        7.9        1.4A           57        26
Charlotte, NC   2.26        6.0        0.1A           56        27
Columbia        2.41        7.4        0.7A           59        26                     
Florence FAA    2.91        6.2        0.8A           61        28   
Blackville      3.74        8.1        1.5A           62        26
Augusta, GA     2.21        6.6        0.2A           61        24   
Beaufort        1.17        NA         NA             63        34      
Charleston      2.11        4.9        0.0            62        29
Myrtle Beach    2.60        7.0        0.8A           62        32
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

                             Degree Days          
                               Actual  
                             Feb. 1-16
                         Cooling   Heating              
Columbia                   0         292  
Charleston                 0         226
Greenville                 0         348 
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average above normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal. Sandhill Experiment Station in
North Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 48
degrees.

    River stages are near above normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 53 degrees.