Cold, twenty-degree temperatures were observed Monday morning with many sites reporting frost. A lengthy warming trend began by that afternoon and lasted for most of the week. Dry, sunny weather and light winds resulted in daily afternoon high temperatures in the 70's. On Thursday, a boundary of cooler air eased into the coastal counties. While most inland sites enjoyed early spring-like warmth, Myrtle Beach only managed a high temperature of 52 degrees. At 10:00 a.m. Friday, the Charleston Waterfront Park was reporting 55 degrees and northeast winds gusting 29 mph. The week's only wet weather occurred during the early afternoon hours Friday along and near the low country's beaches. Clouds and sun alternated their appearance for most of Saturday. Early flowering was beginning in earnest Sunday as high temperatures warmed to near 80 degrees. The state average temperature for the period was one degree above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 81 degrees at Pritchardville on March 11. The lowest official temperature reported was 20 degrees at Hunts Bridge and Cedar Creek on the morning of March 5. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.16 inches at Ft. Moultrie ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 10. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.0 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Deviation
Total Total From Avg
Greer 0.00 9.96 -0.6
Columbia 0.00 8.00 -2.2
Orangeburg 0.01 8.28 -1.9
Charlotte, NC 0.00 9.56 0.4
Augusta, GA 0.00 7.77 -2.6
Florence 0.00 5.58 -2.9
Myrtle Beach 0.00 6.25 -2.4
Charleston 0.07 6.80 -1.8
Savannah, GA 0.00 6.42 -1.7
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 60 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Ocean water temperatures at Fripp Inlet were reported at 59 degrees.
For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.
