On Monday, February 8, a high pressure provided mostly sunny skies for much of the day, and it would be the last time the full sun was seen during the rest of the period. Overnight temperatures across the state were in the upper 20s in the Upstate, with mid-30s reported closer to the coast. However, under sunny skies, the daytime temperatures rose into the upper 50s to low 60s. The high pressure shifted offshore, allowing for moisture to move back into the region on Tuesday. Low temperatures on Tuesday were in the 40s, and the southerly flow during the day helped temperatures rise into the mid and upper 60s by late afternoon. The increase in moisture aided in the development of clouds and isolated light rain in portions of the state. Rain chances increased on Wednesday, triggered by a weak low-pressure system and frontal boundary over the state, and temperatures were warmer in parts of the Upstate than at the coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) station at the North Myrtle Beach Airport reached 59 degrees. In comparison, the Anderson County Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport stations observed a maximum of 71 degrees.
By Thursday, February 11, a low-pressure system moved from the Gulf Coast toward the region, impacting the Carolinas for the remainder of the period. Ahead of the associated cold front, warm, moist air pushed into the area, and pockets of dense fog were reported in the Midlands and Pee Dee. Thursday was the last day of near normal temperatures before a cold air damming event set up on Friday morning. Temperatures fell throughout Friday as cold air funneled into the area, and many locations reported their daily high temperatures early Friday morning. With the cold air coming from the north and the moisture streaming in from the south, the weather conditions over the weekend were raw and unpleasant. The temperatures changed very little over the weekend, maintaining both highs and lows in the mid-30s to low 40s. From Friday and Sunday, rainfall totals ranged from an inch in the Upstate to close to four inches in parts of Aiken and Florence counties.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 1.19 | 5.57 | -0.1 |
| Greer Airport | 1.32 | 6.62 | 0.9 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 1.50 | 6.31 | 1.4 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 2.19 | 8.14 | 2.8 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 0.53M | 5.69M | -0.2M |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 2.81 | 8.25 | 2.5 |
| Florence Airport | 2.69 | 8.58 | 3.9 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 2.43 | 8.43 | 3.1 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 2.34 | 7.23 | 2.0 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 2.31 | 4.98 | 0.2 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. M - denotes total with missing values. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 42 degrees. Columbia: 49 degrees. Barnwell: 42 degrees. Mullins: 36 degrees.
The entire state recorded rainfall over the period, with lower amounts reported in Oconee and Pickens counties, where stations received slightly over half an inch of rain, to more than three inches measured in the Midlands. For the second week in a row, CoCoRaHS observers near Murrells Inlet and Pawley’s Island reported seven-day rainfall totals between three and four inches. Additionally, observers near the Aiken and North Augusta areas recorded three inches of rain, which caused some minor flooding. With the rain across the past two periods, the abnormally dry conditions that had been lingering in portions of Beaufort and Jasper counties improved.
With the recent rainfall, most streamflow values across the state continued to report normal flows. However, some values along rivers in the northern Pee Dee and Santee basins recorded above normal or high flows with the latest round of precipitation. Some river height gauges within the previously mentioned basins are reporting heights in minor flood stage and are forecast to rise to moderate flood stage. Additionally, lower portions of the Edisto, Santee, and Savannah rivers should observe a rise in river height levels as the recent rainfall moves through the systems.
