SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Mostly sunny, dry and mild weather was observed Monday through Saturday. Afternoon temperatures from midweek and beyond topped out in the 70's. Early flowering of daffodils is being reported across central and eastern sections. A frontal passage on Sunday helped develop rainshowers, although amounts were generally light. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged six degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 80 degrees at Cheraw and Jamestown on February 25. The minimum observed temperature was 22 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of February 22. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.60" at Caesars Head and Salem on February 27. Statewide average rainfall for the period was 0.1".

                     Precipitation
                Period	 2000    Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total    Total   From Avg.     Maximum     Minimum
Greer           0.32      5.6      2.8B          76           29
Columbia   	0.14     10.1      1.7A	         77           28
Florence FAA    0.14      5.6      1.1B	         78           30
Blackville      0.16      5.5      2.7B          78           24
Beaufort        0.21      3.8      3.1B          79           37
Charleston      0.01      6.1      0.7B          77           33
Myrtle Beach    0.01      5.5      0.5B          70           30
Augusta, Ga.    0.32      7.5      0.7B          77           26

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 57 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Most South Carolina rivers are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 55 degrees.