SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

  
High pressure dominated the first couple of days of the week. A warming 
trend began on Wednesday, January 22, as surface winds became more 
southerly.  Afternoon high temperatures, as far inland as the midlands, 
rose into the low 70's.  A weak front passed through the state overnight 
with scattered showers.  Thursday, like the day before, was partly sunny 
and mild. The weekend began with strong thunderstorms Friday afternoon.  
Hail and high winds were reported from Aiken eastward to Florence. Cool, 
dry  mostly sunny weather followed through Sunday.  Statewide temperatures 
for the period averaged 6 degrees above normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 77 degrees on January 24 at 
     Williams.  The minimum observed temperature was 13 degrees at 
     Cedar Creek on the morning of  January 20.  The heaviest official 
     24-hour rainfall was recorded at Walhalla with 2.42" ending at 
     7:00 a.m. on January 25.  Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 
     0.7".
        
               Precipitation
               Period     1997      Deviation*            Temperature
Location       Total      Total      From Avg.         Maximum  Minimum   
Greer          1.91        4.6        1.2A             65         21
Charlotte, NC  0.67        2.70       0.4B             65         22
Columbia       0.68        3.6        0.1B             71         21                     
Florence FAA   0.38        2.8        0.5B             71         25   
Blackville     0.46        3.0        0.5B             75         27
Augusta, GA    0.69        3.2        0.1B             74         22   
Beaufort         NA        NA         NA               NA         NA      
Charleston     0.09        2.4        0.5B             74         29
Myrtle Beach   0.45        3.8        0.4A             72         24
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

                             Degree Days          
                               Actual  
                             Jan. 1-26
                    Cooling            Heating              
Columbia              0                 484
Charleston            0                 417
Greenville            0                 586
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.  
     Rainfall is expected to be near to above normal.Sandhill Experiment 
     Station in North Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil 
     temperature of 48 degrees.

    River stages are near normal.
    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 
    49 degrees.