SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Autumn weather, with its alternating warm to mild days and cool mornings, was observed throughout the week. On Wednesday moist southerly winds ahead of a cold front provided heavy up-slope rains across high elevation counties. High pressure covered the state on Thursday and over the weekend. On Saturday morning temperature readings were down into the 40's and 50's. Sunny, clear skies along with near 80 degree warmth was reported on Sunday. Temperatures for the period averaged four degrees above normal.

The maximum observed temperature was 89 degrees on October 6 at Beaufort. The minimum observed temperature was 43 degrees at Cedar Creek on the morning of October 10. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Jocassee with 4.07 inches ending at 7:00 a.m. on October 8. Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.4 inches.

                  Precipitation
                 Period     1998   Deviation*     Temperature
Location        Total      Total   From Avg.   Maximum Minimum   
Greer            0.89      45.3      4.4A        81      50
Charlotte, NC    0.56      35.5      1.3A        NA      NA 
Columbia         0.25      43.1      1.6A        85      49    
Florence FAA     0.00      38.4      1.9A        86      52
Blackville       0.69      45.1      3.8A        85      48
Augusta, GA      0.02      45.7      8.8A        NA      NA
Beaufort         2.31      50.4      6.2A        89      61
Charleston AP    1.91      63.2      19.1A       85      55
Myrtle Beach     2.12      54.7      11.5A       83      56
*A=Above, B=Below         E=Estimate                                                              

ENERGY DEMAND AND AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY

                       Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                       October 1-11
                     Cooling   Heating             
Columbia               77         2
Charleston            102         0
Greenville             39        10  

RIVERS AND SURF