SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

October 9 - 15, 2000

WEATHER SUMMARY

Cold, Canadian high pressure expanded into the southeast Monday and with it the early Fall seasons lowest temperatures. On both Monday and Tuesday morning minimums dropped into the upper 20's and low 30's. Rural counties from the mountains southward into the southern midlands reported frost. A slow warming trend began during midweek with afternoon temperatures rising to over 80 degrees. State Fair goers in Columbia enjoyed clear blue skies and warm afternoons. Concerns over dry conditions have resurfaced due to little or no rain for at least the past three weeks. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged eight degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 85 degrees at the State Climatology Office in downtown Columbia on October 14. The minimum observed temperature was 24 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of October 9. Statewide average rainfall for the period was 0.0".

                        Precipitation
               Period   2000    Deviation*                   Temperature
Location        Total  Total     From Avg.              Maximum      Minimum	
Greer            0.00   29.0         12.4B                 83           38
Columbia         0.00   32.2          9.7B                 82           32            
Florence         0.00   32.4          4.5B                 85           34 	        
Charleston       0.00   40.6          4.0B                 82           35
N Myrtle Beach   0.00   47.9          5.6A                 82           35 
Augusta, Ga.     0.00   33.0          4.3B                 82           31
*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 67 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages are near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 68 degrees.