SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Following the passing of a cold front, mostly cloudy skies and brisk west winds kept high temperatures on Monday in the 50's. Sunny weather was observed on Tuesday and by Wednesday a rapid warmup occurred. South to southwest winds served up afternoon high temperatures in the low 80's. On Thursday, both Florence and Orangeburg shared in the nation's high temperature of 84 degrees. This was the warmest weather across all of South Carolina since the end of October 1998. Spring officially arrived late Saturday night just ahead of thunderstorms early Sunday morning. Golf ball size hail was reported in Richland County around 3:45 a.m. and again damaging high winds in Myrtle Beach less than an hour later. Periods of stormy weather continued throughout Sunday as low pressure tracked across the middle of the state. Statewide temperatures for the week averaged near normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 84 degrees on March 18 at Florence and Orangeburg. The minimum observed temperature was 22 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of March 16. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 1.17 inches at Florence on March 21. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 0.6 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1999   Deviation*      Temperature
Location       Total      Total   From Avg.   Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          0.47       8.4       3.8B        80        30 
Charlotte, NC  0.41       7.4       3.3B        80        25 
Columbia       0.27       7.9       4.6B        80        29    
Florence FAA   1.17      11.5       1.7A        84        30 
Blackville     0.08       8.8       2.5B        82        29
Augusta, GA    0.07       9.8       1.8B        81        30 
Beaufort       0.37       6.3       3.4B        81        38 
Charleston AP  0.37       8.7       1.1B        81        33
Myrtle Beach   1.72       9.8       1.1B        73        30

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 1-21
               Cooling   Heating             
Columbia       0          316
Charleston     6          241
Greenville     0          363

RIVERS AND SURF

Rivers are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 54 degrees.