SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

September 30 - October 6, 2002

WEATHER SUMMARY

It was a quiet and dry weather pattern for the first full week of Autumn 2002. Mostly sunny skies and warm afternoon temperatures in the 80's were reported each day. Mornings were cool to mild with occasional observations of patchy fog. Moisture and clouds began to increase late in the weekend but only isolated light showers in the low country helped wet dry soils. For the period, the state average temperature was nine degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature reported was 95 degrees at Orangeburg on October 5. The lowest temperature was 57 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of September 30. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.05" at Beaufort ending at 7:00 a.m. on September 30. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.1."

                      Precipitation
               Period    2002    Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total   Total     From Avg.      Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            0.00   32.30         7.2B           NA        63                       	              	
Columbia         0.00   35.35         4.4B           91        66
Florence         0.00   28.35         8.0B           NA        63	        
Charleston       0.00   41.77         1.6B           NA        67
N Myrtle Beach   0.00   28.90         8.0B           NA        63
Augusta, Ga.     0.00   29.54         6.7B           90        63 
A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                         
                    

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the 24-hour period ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 80 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages are below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 79 degrees.