SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

February 18 - 24, 2002

WEATHER SUMMARY

Sub-freezing mornings started the week before strong southerly winds helped push temperatures back to near 70 degrees by Wednesday. During the day on Wednesday several sites reported rain showers but the coverage was limited. Mild conditions continued through Friday before a cold front crossed over the state with cloudy skies and cooler weather for Saturday. Sunshine returned for Sunday with a slow rise in temperatures. For the period the state average temperature was two degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature was 78 degrees at Jamestown on February 20. The lowest temperature reported was 19 degrees at Chester on the morning of February 18. The greatest 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.57" at Eutawville ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 21. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.1".

                     Precipitation
               Period    2002    Deviation*        Temperature
Location        Total   Total     From Avg.     Maximum   Minimum	
Greer            0.18    6.25         1.8B         NA        NA                         	              
Columbia         0.07    4.37         3.6B         71        23
Florence         0.08    3.22         3.8B         73        26	        
Charleston       0.26    4.61         2.2B         75        28
N Myrtle Beach   0.10    3.01         3.9B         74        25
Augusta, Ga.     0.15    4.97         3.1B         72        23
*A=Above, B=Below  

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the period ending midnight Monday through midnight Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 56 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 52 degrees.