WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2011

February 28, 2011 - March 6, 2011

WEATHER SUMMARY:

At noon on Monday, February 28, the Darlington AP reported southwest winds of 30 mph, gusting to 38 mph. Stormy weather developed during the evening hours with nickel-sized hail falling over parts of Cheraw and Greenwood and an EF1 tornado causing light property and tree damage near Silverstreet. Hunts Bridge and Bennettsville both measured 1.33 inches of rain. The Florence AP high temperature of 83 degrees at 2:00 p.m. on Monday was replaced with a 24-degree drop to 59 degrees at the same time on Tuesday. Frosty weather was observed on Wednesday morning with Dillon, Hartsville and Pelion all recording 29 degrees. Northeast winds on Thursday limited the high temperature at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach to just 51 degrees. At 9:00 a.m. on Friday, the Darlington AP observed a peak barometric pressure value of 30.58 inches of mercury. Unsettled weather occurred over the weekend with the approach of a cold front. Those few showers on Saturday became more numerous on Sunday with the heaviest rainfall concentrated over the Upstate. The Jocassee Dam measured 4.72 inches of rain during the period. Surface winds on Sunday gusted to 53 mph at the Lake Marion Dam and to 43 mph at the Florence AP. Sunday's weather included breaks of warming sun, blowing rain and late day clearing with sharply falling temperatures. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was five degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 85 degrees at Effingham on February 28. The lowest official temperature reported was 26 degrees at Chesnee on March 2. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.78 inches at Table Rock ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 6. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.1 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                           Precipitation                                                       
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           3.14    8.54     -1.2
      Anderson           2.48    7.58     -2.1
      Columbia           0.99    6.15     -3.3
    Orangeburg           0.90    6.25     -3.2
 Charlotte, NC           1.99    5.82     -2.6
   Augusta, GA           1.17    6.75     -2.8
      Florence           0.95    5.12     -2.7
N Myrtle Beach           0.81    6.53     -1.4
    Charleston           0.47    5.58     -2.3
  Savannah, GA           0.81    6.55     -1.0

Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 58 degrees, Charleston 61 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 54 degrees.