WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2012
February 20 - February 26, 2012
WEATHER SUMMARY:
There were reports of scattered frost on Monday morning. The usual cold spot of Cedar Creek noted a minimum temperature of 28 degrees. Most of the state recorded afternoon high temperatures in the 50's. The Tuesday morning low temperature fell to 27 degrees at Pelion and the Rock Hill AP. An area of low pressure crossed the Upstate on Wednesday night with thunderstorms observed at Clemson. The Greenville-Spartanburg AP recorded a barometric pressure value of 29.60 inches of mercury, at 11:53 p.m. Much warmer air entered the state overnight and with isolated thundershowers. Laurens measured 0.60 inches. The Thursday morning low temperatures were the mildest in the state since December 22, 2011. Holly Hill, Orangeburg, Kingstree and Summerville all warmed to 82 degrees on Thursday afternoon. More spring-like weather was observed on Friday with temperatures climbing into the middle 80's. The Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station and Walterboro reached 85 degrees. Strong thunderstorms formed during the mid-day hours over the southern Piedmont and sped eastward. At 12:48 p.m., 1.75-inch diameter hail fell over parts of Aiken County. At 1:07 p.m. an EF-2 rated tornado began an 8-mile path from 5 miles north of Wagner. Winds were estimated at up to 130 mph. Large hail fell over parts of Lancaster and Richland County. A weak tornado passed near Pinewood and at 5:09 p.m., an EF-1 tornado caused property damage southeast of Islandton, in Colleton County. Intense rains fell over Lexington County. There were multiple CoCoRahs volunteer network rainfall measurements near three inches. National Weather Service observers measured an even two inches at Edgefield and Sandhill. Brisk northwest winds on Saturday brought high temperatures back into the 50's. McClellanville and Pinopolis reported maximum temperatures of just 57 degrees. On Sunday morning, Dillon and Cheraw recorded a freezing 27 degrees. The Myrtle Beach International Airport reached 55 degrees Sunday afternoon. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was four degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 86 degrees at Givhans on February 24. The lowest official temperature reported was 24 degrees at Clinton on February 21 and at Hunts Bridge, Chesnee and Union on February 26. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.04 inches at McCormick ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 25. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.5 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer AP 0.18 5.03 -2.5
Anderson AP 0.17 5.47 -2.0
Columbia Metro AP 1.02 4.00 -2.9
Orangeburg AP 0.16 3.08 -4.2
Charlotte, NC AP 0.15 3.51 -3.0
Augusta, GA Bush AP 0.10 2.51 -5.0
Florence AP 0.93 3.66 -2.3
N Myrtle Beach AP 0.15 3.21 -3.7
Charleston AP 0.12 2.84 -3.6
Savannah, GA AP 0.16 3.44 -2.8
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 56 degrees, Charleston 59 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 55 degrees.
