Bright, sunny weather and upper 80-degree warmth was observed early in the week. Tuesday's afternoon heating joined with a thermal boundary just inland from the coastal waters near Alvin, S.C. in Berkeley County to produce 45 thousand foot thunderstorm cloud tops and two-inch diameter hail. A few isolated locations received welcomed, yet light amounts of rain over dry soils. On Thursday, a lengthy period of cold air advection began to overspread the state. Shortly after midnight Saturday, the National Weather Service in Greer reported snowflakes. The modified Arctic-origin air with record cold and threats to early season farm operations peaked on Sunday morning. Columbia's low of 26 degrees Sunday morning tied the record for their lowest ever April temperature. Mostly sunny, blue skies ended the first full week of April 2007 but out of doors activities likely required heavier clothing due to the unusually cold airmass. The state average temperature for the period was three degrees below normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 88 degrees at Jamestown on April 2. The lowest official temperature reported was 17 degrees at Pelion on the morning of April 8. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.25 inches at Jamestown ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 4. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.1 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Deviation
Total Total From Avg
Greer 0.06 10.96 -4.0
Columbia 0.00 9.20 -4.8
Orangeburg 0.00 8.78 -5.3
Charlotte, NC 0.00 10.66 -2.2
Augusta, GA 0.02 8.21 -5.9
Florence 0.00 6.34 -5.6
Myrtle Beach 0.00 6.84 -4.9
Charleston 0.03 7.12 -4.9
Savannah, GA 0.00 6.60 -4.9
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 64 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 60 degrees.
For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.
