SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 1997


WEATHER SUMMARY
     Near normal temperatures were reported the first few days of the week.
Frost was observed on Monday morning as temperature minimums dropped into
the upper 20's and lower 30's across the western half of the state.  Cloudy
skies persisted into Wednesday, February 26.  Scattered light showers occur-
red during the afternoon on Wednesday as a warm front moved northward. By
Thursday afternoon, high temperatures soared into the 80's over most of
eastern counties.  An active cold front entered upstate sections on Friday
and produced thunderstorms and heavy rains into Saturday.  Rainfall amounts
ranged from 2 to 3 inches over the mountains, foothills and piedmont. Rivers,
whose headwaters originate in upstate basins, responded by reaching flood
stage.  Saturday, March 1, was mostly sunny and warm for all of South
Carolina except for northwestern counties where clouds and cooler air had
wedged against the mountains.  Sunday ended the week with increasing clouds
on warm southerly winds.  Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 9
degrees above normal in the upstate and 12 degrees above normal elsewhere.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
     The maximum observed temperature was 88 degrees on February 27 at
Jamestown.  The minimum observed temperature was 24 degrees at Cedar Creek
on the morning of February 24.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was
recorded at Calhoun Falls with 2.58" ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 1.  State-
wide rainfall for the period averaged 1.3".
        
                  Precipitation
                Period     1997     Deviation*       Temperature
Location        Total      Total     From Avg.      Maximum Minimum   
Greer           2.72       11.2       2.3A           76       31
Columbia        0.88       9.1        0.3A           84       30                     
Florence FAA    0.12       6.9        0.2B           87       33   
Blackville      0.54       8.7        0.1A           85       35
Augusta, GA     0.64       8.5        0.2B           85       32   
Beaufort        0.28       6.5        2.5A           80       42 
Charleston      0.12       5.5        1.4B           85       42
Myrtle Beach    0.15       8.3        0.1A           72       34
*A=Above, B=Below
ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                             Degree Days          
                               Actual  
                             Feb. 1-28
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia               12       390  
Charleston             17       288
Greenville             0        480 
                                                                                             

     Temperatures are expected to average above normal for the week. Rainfall 
is expected to be near to above normal. The Sandhill Experiment Station in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 64 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
     River stages are above normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and
Savannah will average around 58 degrees.

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