SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Feb. 17-23, 1997

WEATHER SUMMARY
         The week began with a slow warming trend.  Dense fog was wide-
spread on Wednesday morning, February 19.  Mostly southerly winds helped
push afternoon high temperatures into the mid and upper 70's on Wednesday
and Thursday and peaked on Friday afternoon with spring-like readings in the
low 80's across eastern and southern sites.  Severe weather highlighted late
afternoon Friday's weather as an active cold front collided with the warm,
unstable air mass.  Thunderstorms producing damaging winds and reports of
tornadoes swept through the state.  In Roebuck, the National Weather Service
estimated tornadic winds of 120 mph.  Near and along a one mile path, homes
were destroyed or severely damaged.  Downed trees and limbs caused power
disruptions and property losses from the upstate through the midlands and
into northern coastal counties.  Saturday was mostly cloudy and much cooler.
Afternoon high temperatures fell at least 15 degrees compared to the day be-
fore.  The week ended with a return to mostly sunny skies.  Statewide tempe-
ratures for the period averaged 7 degrees above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
     The maximum observed temperature was 82 degrees on February 21 at Holly
Hill and Williams.  The minimum observed temperature was 25 degrees at Wal-
halla on the morning of February 23.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at Springfield with 2.83" ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 22.
Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.7".
        
                      Precipitation
               Period  1997    Deviation*          Temperature
Location        Total  Total    From Avg.        Maximum   Minimum   
Greer           0.54   8.4        0.8A              71        32
Charlotte, NC   0.22   6.2        0.6B              74        34
Columbia        0.85   8.2        0.5A              81        33                     
Florence FAA    0.52   6.7        0.6A              81        34   
Blackville      0.11   8.2        0.6A              81        33
Augusta, GA     1.24   7.8        0.3A              80        32   
Beaufort        0.57   NA         NA                77        37      
Charleston      0.56   5.4        0.7B              79        34
Myrtle Beach    1.15   8.2        1.0A              73        35
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                             Degree Days          
                  Actual  
                 Feb. 1-23
               Cooling   Heating              
Columbia          4       346  
Charleston        3       264
Greenville        0       417 
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal.The Sandhill Experiment Station in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 53
degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
    River stages are near to above normal.Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 53 degrees.

Sandi St.Claire, stclaire@water.dnr.state.sc.us