Record setting warmth was reported all over the state on both Monday and Tuesday. Afternoon high temperatures peaked in the 80's. Isolated showers were observed late Tuesday across mostly upstate counties. A cold front on Wednesday lowered temperatures back in line with seasonal normals. Several sites fell to at or below freezing on Thursday morning. Long awaited wet weather returned on Saturday as low pressure passed near the state. Although amounts varied considerably, this was the first soaking rain since the end of September. Sunday ended the week under cloudy skies and periods of drizzle. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged nine degrees above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The maximum observed temperature was 85 degrees on December 4 at Beaufort, Florence and Sandhill. The minimum observed temperature was 27 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of December 10. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 1.34 inches at Salem ending 7:00 a.m. on December 13. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.3 inches.
Precipitation
Period 1998 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 1.53 49.3 0.5A 74 36
Charlotte, NC 0.56 38.3 2.7B 76 34
Columbia 0.20 44.4 3.3B 81 39
Florence FAA 0.64 40.3 1.7B 85 38
Blackville 0.18 46.0 1.0A 83 33
Augusta, GA 0.22 46.6 4.0A 82 43
Beaufort 0.38 52.4 2.8A 85 45
Charleston AP 0.69 64.1 14.5A 82 40
Myrtle Beach 0.30 56.5 6.2A 76 43
*A=Above, B=Below, E=Estimate
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
December 1-13
Cooling Heating
Columbia 14 78
Charleston 23 36
Greenville 4 107
Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week. Rainfall is
expected to be near normal.
The National Weather Service located at Columbia Metropolitan Airport reports
an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 62 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
Rivers are below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 61 degrees.
sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/weekly/wk121498.html