SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Monday, the first day of Spring, was accompanied by widespread rains. Many sites measured amounts of two inches or more. Skies became mostly sunny by Wednesday with a general warming trend which lasted through the weekend. High temperatures around 80 degrees were reported on both Saturday and Sunday. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged three degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 84 degrees at Orangeburg on March 26. The minimum observed temperature was 34 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of March 22. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.40" at Caesars Head, Summerville and Edisto Beach on March 20. Statewide average rainfall for the period was 1.6".

               Precipitation
             Period     2000     Deviation*               Temperature
Location     Total      Total    From Avg.            Maximum   Minimum
Greer         2.19       9.9        3.3B                 78        42
Columbia      1.46      13.9        1.1A                 79        41
Florence      1.31       8.2        2.1B                 79        40
Charleston    1.83       9.4        1.1B                 81        42
Myrtle Beach  0.90       8.3        2.3B                 79        39
Augusta, Ga.  1.59      10.3        2.1B                 80        40

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 63 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Most South Carolina rivers are near or above normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 61 degrees.