WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2018
March 12, 2018 - March 18, 2018
WEATHER SUMMARY:
On March 12, an occluded low over Georgia interacted with an offshore developing nor'easter to produce a day of overcast skies and rain for the entire state. Cedar Creek had a morning low temperature of 31 degrees and Charleston had an afternoon high temperature of 56 degrees. The Charleston Airport reported 0.43 inches of rain. Florence and North Myrtle Beach reported 0.53 inches of rain. A CoCoRaHS network observer in Lowrys reported a 24-hour rainfall total of 1.18 inches. High pressure built in rapidly behind the departing nor'easter and clear conditions prevailed on March 13. Columbia reached an afternoon high temperature of 57 degrees after recording a morning low of 31 degrees.
High pressure over the central US migrated south towards the Gulf coast on March 14. Cedar Creek began the day with a morning low temperature of 25 degrees. Heavy frost was observed in Kingstree and Ehrhardt, and a CoCoRaHS observer observed a brief snow flurry in Fort Mill. Gusty northwest winds were reported throughout the day across the state. Sustained winds of 20 mph gusting to 29 mph were reported at the Marlboro County Jetport. Despite clear skies, Charleston only reached an afternoon high temperature of 57 degrees.
Clear and dry conditions continued on Thursday, March 15. Cedar Creek had a morning low temperature of 21 degrees. Greenville and Columbia reached an afternoon high of 70 degrees. Barnwell, Charleston, and Florence reported afternoon high temperatures of 79 degrees. A weak frontal boundary hovered over the state during the weekend. The boundary produced a band of light rain that tracked across the state on March 17 before dissipating on the coast late in the day. Anderson received 0.29 inches of rain. Darlington had a Saturday morning low temperature of 39 degrees and Greer warmed to 77 degrees behind the line of showers. On Saturday, Sassafras Mountain had sustained winds of 37.9 mph gusting to 53.9 mph. Clear conditions prevailed on Sunday, March 18. McCormick had a morning low temperature of 48 degrees, and Walterboro had a high temperature of 80 degrees.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)
The highest official temperature reported was 83 degrees at NWS Coop site Edisto Island Middleton Plantation and Barnwell on March 18.
The lowest official temperature reported was 21 degrees at both Cedar Creek and Ninety Nine Islands on March 15.
The heaviest official 24-hour precipitation reported was 0.67 inches at USGS Twelvemile Creek near Liberty in Pickens County during a period ending at 7 AM on March 17.
The state average precipitation for the seven-day period was 0.60 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
| | Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure |
| Anderson Airport | 0.54 | 10.49 | 0.1 |
| Greer Airport | 0.23 | 9.84 | -0.6 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 0.54 | 8.02 | -1.1 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 0.63 | 5.60 | -3.9 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 0.44 | 3.93 | -6.0 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 0.53 | 5.57 | -4.8 |
| Florence Airport | 0.53 | 5.21 | -2.9 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 0.53 | 7.05 | -2.3 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 0.49 | 5.02 | -3.8 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 0.09 | 3.22 | -5.4 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. |
SOIL TEMPERATURES:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 45 degrees. Columbia: 58 degrees. Barnwell: 51 degrees. Mullins: 50 degrees.
RIVER STAGES:
Upstate river stages were much below normal to below normal.
Midlands and Pee Dee river stages were much below normal to below normal.
Lowcountry river stages were much below normal.
COASTAL OCEAN TEMPERATURES:
Charleston Harbor water temperature: 59.2 degrees.
Fripp Nearshore Buoy (Station 41033): 59.5 degrees.
