SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Light showers began before sunrise on Monday across western counties and continued throughout the day towards the coast. Clearing was observed on Tuesday with cooler weather and brisk northwest winds. Low temperatures on Wednesday fell below freezing over most inland sites with heavy frost reported. Mild afternoon conditions on Friday preceded another round of light showers. Mostly sunny, seasonal weather ended the week. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged two degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 74 degrees on December 9 at Beaufort and Allendale and at Charleston AP on the 12th. The minimum observed temperature was 19 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of December 8. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.71" at Chesterfield ending at 7:00 am on December 11. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.3".

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1999         Deviation*       Temperature
Location         Total      Total         From Avg.     Maximum Minimum   
Greer             0.69       34.3          14.4B          68        29
Charlotte, NC     0.47       33.6           7.3B          67        23
Columbia          0.21       28.8          18.8B          71        25            
Florence FAA      0.03       38.1           3.8B          71        27                                                  73          22
Blackville        0.05       37.0           7.9B          73        22
Augusta, GA       0.23       36.0           6.5B          74        24
Beaufort          0.32       46.6           2.8B          74        38
Charleston        0.20       44.2           5.4B          74        32
Myrtle Beach      0.31       62.6          12.3A          67        30 

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperatures: Clemson 52 degrees. Columbia 56 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Most South Carolina rivers are near or below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 58 degrees.