SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

      The week began under high pressure with sunny skies and frosty mornings. 
By Wednesday, December 11, a return  flow of southwesterly winds provided warm 
afternoons as temperatures climbed into the 70's.  A cold front approached the
following Thursday and there were heavy showers reported in the foothills.  
Weather conditions over the weekend were considered normal for this time of the
year with morning lows near freezing and afternoon highs in the 60's.   
Statewide temperatures for the period averaged near normal along the coast and 
upstate while the midlands averaged 2 degrees above normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 76 degrees on December 12 at Cades,
Walterboro, Williams and Chesterfield. The minimum observed temperature was 
20 degrees at Cedar Creek and Mullins on the morning of  December 10.  The
heaviest official 24 -hour rainfall was recorded at Anderson FAA with 1.52" 
ending at 7:00 a.m. on December 13.  Statewide rainfall for the week averaged 
0.3".

                     Precipitation
                     Period     1996         Deviation*          Temperature
Location             Total      Total         From Avg.         Maximum Minimum
Greer                 0.70      52.9           3.8A              66       27
Charlotte, NC         0.74      39.6           1.6B              66       27
Columbia              0.07      32.1           15.8B             74       25
Florence 8 NE         0.00      49.8           5.7A              75       24   
Blackville            0.05      34.2           11.0B             75       27
Augusta, GA           0.19      37.6           5.2B              75       25 
Charleston            0.21      44.7           4.8B              74       28
Myrtle Beach          0.00      46.7           3.9B              66       27
*A=Above, B=Below
 

                Degree Days          
                  Actual  
               Dec 1-15
             Cooling   Heating              
Columbia        0        225
Charleston      1        172
Greenville      0        268
                

     Temperatures are expected to average near to below normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal.  Sandhill Experiment Station in North 
Columbia reports average soil temperature at a 4-inch depth of 49 degrees.

    River stages are near normal.
    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 52
degrees.