SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Areas of dense fog were observed on Monday morning along with light rainshowers or drizzle. Clearing skies and colder weather occurred late in the day on Tuesday. By Thursday, more seasonal mid-50 degree afternoon temperatures were being reported. Friday morning started cold with some sites recording low 20 degree readings. Over the weekend, the cold boundary was positioned over eastern sections of the state with cloudy skies and periods of rain. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged two degrees above normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 77 degrees on December 13 at Cades. The minimum observed temperature was 20 degrees at Blackville on the morning of December 17. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.70" at Kingstree ending at 7:00 am on December 19. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.1".

                    Precipitation
                   Period     1999      Deviation*         Temperature
Location           Total      Total      From Avg.        Maximum Minimum   
Greer              0.92       35.2         14.5B           63        29
Charlotte, NC      0.66       34.3          7.4B           61        24
Columbia           0.95       29.7         18.7B           66        27            
Florence FAA       1.29       39.4          3.2B           74        28           
Blackville         0.93       37.9          7.1B           68        20
Augusta, GA        0.40       36.5          6.8B           67        23
Beaufort           2.09       48.7          1.5B           NA        NA
Charleston           NA         NA            NA           NA        NA
Myrtle Beach       1.47       64.0         13.0A           71        34 

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 temperatures: Clemson 51 degrees. Columbia 54 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

Most South Carolina rivers are near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 56 degrees.