SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

After a mild start on Monday much colder air settled into South Carolina through Friday. Early morning temperatures on both Tuesday and Wednesday fell below freezing over most sites. Daytime high temperatures were also more winter-like, peaking in the lower 50's. Warming, southerly winds over the weekend helped temperatures rebound back into the 70's. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged three degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 75 degrees on December 4 at Beaufort. The minimum observed temperature was 14 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of December 1. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 0.28" at Greer on December 5. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.00".

               Precipitation
               Period     1999      Deviation*     Temperature
Location       Total      Total      From Avg.  Maximum   Minimum   
Greer          0.28       33.6        14.2B       72        24
Charlotte, NC  0.00       33.2         7.0B       71        20
Columbia       0.00       28.6        18.3B       73        22            
Florence FAA   0.00       38.0         3.1B       71        23           
Blackville     0.00       37.0         6.4B       73        16
Augusta, GA    0.00       35.8         6.0B       77        21
Beaufort       0.00       46.3         2.4B       75        31
Charleston     0.11       44.0         4.9B       73        27
Myrtle Beach   0.00       62.3        12.9A       71        28 

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

SOIL

4 in depth average soil temperatures: Clemson 52 degrees, Columbia 56 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Most South Carolina rivers are near or below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 60 degrees.