SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

WEATHER SUMMARY

Warm weather dominated the work week. On Tuesday a few scattered showers were reported over the upstate. Many spring flowers responded with early blooms. Afternoon high temperatures peaked on Friday in the upper 70's and low 80's. Winter made its return on the heels of a strong cold front Friday evening. Thunderstorms were observed near the Grand Strand beaches and winds over the midlands gusted to 40 mph. Afternoon high temperatures on Saturday fell almost 30 degrees from the previous day. Low temperatures on Sunday dropped into the teens. Both Florence and Myrtle Beach reported a wind chill value of five degrees Sunday morning. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged eight degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 83 degrees on February 12 at Beaufort. The minimum observed temperature was 12 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of February 14. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 0.42 inches at West Pelzer ending 7:00 a.m. on February 10. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.1 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1999     Deviation*      Temperature
Location       Total      Total    From Avg.     Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          0.21       5.3        0.9B          71        20 
Charlotte, NC  0.00       4.8        0.7B          73        16 
Columbia       0.06       5.6        0.4B          78        26    
Florence FAA   0.22       8.5        3.4A          80        25 
Blackville     0.00       7.3        1.0A          79        18
Augusta, GA    0.21       7.6        0.1B          79        22 
Beaufort       0.00       5.3        0.1B          83        31
Charleston AP  0.01       6.6        1.6A          79        29
Myrtle Beach   0.32       6.4        1.4A          74        28

*A=Above, B=Below, E=Estimate

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                Degree Days      
                  Actual  
               February 1-14
            Cooling   Heating             
Columbia       0       180
Charleston     1       128
Greenville     0       215

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are near normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 55 degrees.