SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

The seasons of winter and spring battled each other during the first week of March. Sunny, breezy and mild conditions were observed on Monday and Tuesday. A cold front raced through the state on Wednesday with high winds and only spotty rainfall. Westerly winds gusted over 50 mph and mid-afternoon temperatures at Florence fell 24 degrees in just two hours. Thursday morning low temperatures were reported in the low 20's over the upstate and near freezing along the coast. Departing high pressure and its accompanying windshift helped moderate air temperatures on Saturday. Afternoon highs in the 70's were widespread. Most observation sites are reporting deficits in rainfall for the January to date period. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged two degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 75 degrees on March 6 at Beaufort. The minimum observed temperature was 19 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of March 4. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 0.56 inches at Caesars Head ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 4. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.2 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1999    Deviation*      Temperature
Location       Total      Total   From Avg.    Maximum    Minimum   
Greer          0.54       7.2       2.6B         68         26 
Charlotte, NC  0.29       6.5       2.1B         68         22 
Columbia       0.01       6.3       3.4B         73         25    
Florence FAA   0.07       9.4       1.7A         74         32 
Blackville     0.10       7.7       1.7B         74         22
Augusta, GA    0.34       8.4       1.0B         73         24 
Beaufort       0.09       5.7       2.3B         75         37 
Charleston AP  0.00       7.0       0.8B         73         29
Myrtle Beach   0.42       7.4       1.5B         69         31

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m. Monday through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                 Degree Days      
                    Actual  
                  March 1-7
               Cooling   Heating             
Columbia       0          104
Charleston     0           92
Greenville     0          134

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 53 degrees.