SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

March 31 - April 6, 2003

WEATHER SUMMARY

Many inland sites started the week with a late season early morning frost, and freezing temperatures. As high pressure shifted east on Wednesday, westerly winds helped moderate temperatures and 80 degree observations were common. Afternoon warmth peaked on Thursday with a few reports of upper 80's. Flowering of plant life took on a rapid pace. Moist, southerly winds over the weekend provided clouds and periods of showers. With limited sunshine on Sunday, afternoon temperatures only rose into the 60's. The average statewide temperature for the period was one degree above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature reported was 88 degrees at Jamestown on April 5. The lowest temperature was 23 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of April 1. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.99" at Greer on April 6. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.4".

                    Precipitation
               Period	2003   Deviation*         Temperature
Location        Total  Total   From Avg.       Maximum   Minimum	
Greer            1.55  14.21       0.5B            79       29  
Columbia         0.20  12.60       1.2B            82       31
Florence         0.11   8.54       3.2B            82       33      
Charleston       0.01  10.71       1.1B            86       37
N Myrtle Beach   0.13  11.27       0.3B            76       34
Augusta, Ga.     0.46E 13.20       0.7B            81       31
A=Above, B=Below                                                                                      

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the 24-hour period ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 65 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were reported above normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 62 degrees.