On Monday, onshore winds from the cool waters of the adjacent Atlantic Ocean only allowed for daytime high temperatures across eastern South Carolina of around 70 degrees. Slow warming began Tuesday and continued through Wednesday. Afternoon maximum temperatures climbed into the middle 80's. A southward moving body of cooler air entered the state on Thursday, lowering temperatures over the Pee Dee counties by twenty degrees. At noon Thursday, Darlington was reporting 54 degrees and northeast winds gusting 28 mph. A few high elevation sites received light showers off and on for several days following, but amounts were very light. The area of cool air seemed to park itself over the north coastal locations through Saturday. Early morning temperatures along South Carolina counties bordering North Carolina fell to around 40 degrees Saturday morning. Mild to warm, early spring weather, was observed Sunday and mixed with a few passing showers. Outside of late Sunday evening's mountains and foothills generous rainfall and tree pollen cleansing coverage, only spotty and brief raindrops were observed elsewhere. Most of South Carolina has fallen behind in their January to date normal amount of expected rainfall by nearly a month. The state average temperature for the period was seven degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 89 degrees at Jamestown on March 28. The lowest official temperature reported was 38 degrees at Loris on the morning of March 31. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.29 inches at Caesars Head on April 1. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.3 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Deviation
Total Total From Avg
Greer 0.18 10.90 -3.2
Columbia 0.13 9.20 -4.0
Orangeburg 0.01 8.78 -4.4
Charlotte, NC 0.23 10.66 -1.4
Augusta, GA 0.09 8.19 -5.2
Florence 0.00 6.34 -4.9
Myrtle Beach 0.06 6.84 -4.2
Charleston 0.00 7.09 -4.2
Savannah, GA 0.00 6.60 -4.0
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 65 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 63 degrees
For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.
