SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

    The week began under mild conditions which continued into Friday,
February 7.  A weak front remained nearly stationary across the state
during midweek and rainshowers were reported in mostly western and
northern counties on the cooler side of the boundary. Many eastern sites,
on both Monday and Wednesday, reported afternoon high temperatures in
the low to mid 70's. An area of low pressure passed near the state
early in the weekend with showers late Friday night and early Saturday
morning.  Mostly cloudy skies lingered over the balance of the weekend.
Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 6 degrees above normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 79 degrees on February 5 at
Jamestown.  The minimum observed temperature was 25, degrees at Caesars
Head on the morning of February 6.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at York with 1.00" ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 5.
Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.6".
        
               Precipitation
               Period      1997       Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total     Total        From Avg.       Maximum Minimum   
Greer           0.91       5.7           0.3A           63       30
Charlotte, NC   0.86       3.8           1.1B           70       32
Columbia        0.79       4.9           0.7B           74       37                     
Florence FAA    0.50       3.3           0.5B           71       35   
Blackville      0.36       4.4           1.2B           74       38
Augusta, GA     0.28       3.9           1.4B           74       37   
Beaufort        0.05       NA            NA             75       42      
Charleston      0.03       2.7           1.7B           77       37
Myrtle Beach    0.05       4.4           0.9B           73       37
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

                      Degree Days          
                         Actual  
                        Feb. 1-9
                   Cooling   Heating              
Columbia              0        107  
Charleston            0        87 
Greenville            0        149 
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near 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 52 degrees.