WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2008

March 3, 2008 - March 9, 2008

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Warm, sunny weather was observed on Monday before Tuesday's arrival of a cold front and strong storms. During the afternoon and evening hours Tuesday, several lines of thunderstorms crossed the state. Winds at Lake Murray gusted to 62 mph and there were confirmed weak tornadoes in Lancaster and Newberry counties. Skies cleared on Thursday just ahead of a large area of low pressure moving in from the Gulf States. Periods of heavy rain fell on Friday. The Beaufort MCAS measured 1.51 inches. The week's second round of high winds occurred on Saturday. The Pineville sensor near the Santee Dam recorded a gust of 52 mph and the Florence AP recorded 51 mph. The back side of the exiting feature caused snow flurries at Table Rock, in Pickens County. Sunday morning temperatures fell below freezing for much of South Carolina. The state average temperature for the period was three degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 78 degrees at Charleston AP on March 3. The lowest official temperature reported was 22 degrees at Table Rock, Pelion, Cedar Creek, and Rock Hill AP on the morning of March 9. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.42 inches at Edgefield ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 5. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.6 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                            
                                                                                                                                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           2.02    8.13     -2.1 
      Columbia           2.07    8.95     -0.9
    Orangeburg           1.46    7.67     -2.2
 Charlotte, NC           1.99    6.59     -2.3           	
   Augusta, GA           2.92    9.95     -0.1
      Florence           1.15    8.05     -0.2
N Myrtle Beach           1.11    8.78      0.4
    Charleston           1.60    7.39     -0.9    
  Savannah, GA           0.87    8.36      0.5






Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL:

4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 56 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 58 degrees.

For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.