SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Tropical moisture, associated with another in a series low pressure systems, brought heavy rains again to South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday. Sites along the coast received amounts in excess of 5 inches for the event. Thunderstorms on Tuesday produced hail and high winds over western counties and unconfirmed tornadoes in Greenwood and Laurens counties. Warm southerly winds followed the storminess and sent afternoon temperatures into the mid 70's and lower 80's. Mild, sunny weather carried into the weekend. On Sunday afternoon showers and thunderstorms returned. The State Climatology Office rooftop anemometer in downtown Columbia recorded a wind gust of 71 mph Sunday night. Since January 1, 1998, most reporting sites have received between 200 to 300 percent of normal rainfall. Statewide temperatures averaged 6 degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 83 degrees on February 17 at Edisto Beach. The minimum observed temperature was 22 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of February 21. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Edisto Beach with 6.12" ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 17. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 2.4 inches.

               Precipitation
               Period     1997      Deviation*         Temperature
Location       Total      Total     From Avg.        Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          2.33       12.3       4.9A              64        32
Charlotte, NC  1.40        8.8       2.1A              69        38
Columbia       1.82       12.3       4.6A              74        34
Florence FAA   3.34       10.6       4.5A              77        38
Blackville     1.45       12.3       4.8A              75        33 
Augusta, GA    2.42       12.8       5.5A              70        33
Beaufort       5.34       14.8       8.5A              76        43
Charleston     7.38       17.1      11.2A              70        42
Myrtle Beach   4.42       16.9       9.8A              70        36
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                       Degree Days      
                        Actual  
                       Feb. 1-22
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia              0         370
Charleston            3         283
Greenville            0         435    
                                                                                

RIVERS AND SURF

River stages are above normal. Several eastern rivers remain in flood.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 53 degrees.