SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

March 26 - April 1, 2001

WEATHER SUMMARY

Late season Canadian high pressure dominated the first half of the week with cool afternoons in the 60's and frosty 30 degree mornings. On Thursday a slow moving wet weather system approached from the Gulf states bringing heavy, wind-driven rains. Upstate sites received amounts of around two inches. Warmer weather followed on both Friday and Saturday with 70 degree afternoon temperatures. A sharp change occurred on Sunday as a cold front raced through the state with isolated storms. Several of the storms produced small hail and damaging high winds. By late afternoon clearing skies were observed although northwest winds gusting near 50 mph caused scattered power disruptions. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged seven degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature was 78 degrees at Hartsville on March 31. The lowest temperature was 19 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of March 26. The heaviest 24 hour rainfall reported was 2.48" at East Simpsonville on March 29. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.3".

   

                     Precipitation
               Period    2001   Deviation*               Temperature
Location        Total   Total    From Avg.           Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            2.06   12.05        2.0B               68         29                            	              		
Columbia         1.21    9.11        4.4B               73         27
Florence         0.76    7.91        3.1B               74         30	        
Charleston       0.60    9.69        1.5B               74         30   
N Myrtle Beach   1.03   11.10        0.1B               71         31
Augusta, Ga.     1.83   12.05        1.1B               73         27
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                               
               

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 56 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were nearing normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 55 degrees.