SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

A late season frost was observed early Monday morning across rural sites over the western half of South Carolina. Cloudy weather and a few light showers were reported Tuesday morning south of the midlands but by afternoon sunny, warmer conditions returned. Dry days continued through the work week with afternoon temperatures peaking on Thursday and Friday in the upper 80's and low 90's. Saturday saw a sharp cold front drop southward into the state and initiate mid-afternoon thunderstorms with large hail. Aiken County reported near baseball size hail of 2.75 inches in diameter. Rainfall was isolated at best with only a couple of observation sites measuring more than a quarter of an inch. Brisk easterly winds on Sunday held afternoon high temperatures in the 70's. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged three degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 92 degrees on April 22 at Hartsville and April 23 at Blackville. The minimum observed temperature was 26 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of April 19. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 1.25 inches at Blackville ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 25. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.1 inches.

          
                                  Precipitation
              Period     1999      Deviation*       Temperature
Location       Total     Total      From Avg.    Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          0.01      10.5         6.6B       86        37 
Charlotte, NC  0.00       8.7         5.7B       85        33 
Columbia       0.01       9.6         6.6B       88        37    
Florence FAA   0.06      13.2         0.1A       88        41 
Blackville     1.25      12.5         3.1B       92        34
Augusta, GA    0.03      11.6         4.1B       91        35 
Beaufort       0.14       8.4         5.1B       89        47 
Charleston AP  0.55      10.9         2.5B       88        41
Myrtle Beach   0.00      11.3         3.3B       80        44

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

               Degree Days      
                  Actual  
                April 1-25
            Cooling   Heating             
Columbia    125       50
Charleston  135       34
Greenville   70       86

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 67 degrees.