A low-pressure system approached the area from the central US on Monday, December 25, bringing breezy conditions with warm temperatures and periods of rain throughout the day. Temperatures were up to ten degrees above average, with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s and highs in the 60s. The above-average temperatures and periods of showers continued into Tuesday. Rain was heavy at times in the Upstate, prompting flash flood watches to be issued for locations in the state's higher elevations. Heavy rain was reported throughout the day in the Charleston area, and there were some reports of flooded streets in downtown Charleston due to a combination of heavy rain and the tidal gauge reaching a height of 7.0 ft MLLW.
By Wednesday, December 27, dense fog had developed in the morning, with visibility dropping to less than a quarter of a mile at many locations. Rain chances diminished as the low pressure moved away from the region, though a few lingering showers were observed across the Lowcountry and Pee Dee. A dry cold front pushed across the region on Thursday, and temperatures were near normal.
Cooler and drier air filtered back into the region, and breezy conditions were observed, with wind gusts up to 35 mph reported at multiple stations in the Midlands. Temperatures on Friday and Saturday were up to ten degrees below normal, with morning lows in the 30s and highs in the upper 40s to mid-50s. The weather on the last day of 2023 was mostly clear skies and seasonable temperatures.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 2.04 | 46.00 | -0.2 |
| Greer Airport | 2.81 | 51.95 | 2.3 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 2.46 | 46.18 | 2.6 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 1.57 | 55.58 | 10.3 |
| Orangeburg 2 (COOP) | M | 58.33 | 7.9 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 0.54 | 62.72 | 18.6 |
| Florence Airport | 0.47 | 46.47 | 1.2 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 1.54 | 44.95 | -3.5 | Charleston Air Force Base | 3.47 | 54.64 | 2.1 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 0.80 | 41.98 | -6.1 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. M - denotes total with missing values. s - denotes total with suspect data. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 45 degrees. Columbia: 51 degrees. Barnwell: 44 degrees. Mullins: 47 degrees.
A storm system at the beginning of the period produced widespread rainfall across the state. Most locations recorded at least half an inch of rain, while areas near Charleston reported three to four inches of rain, and higher elevations of the Upstate reported up to seven inches of rain. The heavy rain in the Upstate improved drought conditions on the December 28 release of the US Drought Monitor (USDM) map. The areas experiencing severe drought (D2) conditions decreased in Cherokee, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties, though moderate drought (D1) conditions persisted. While some areas of the Upper Savannah River area reported between one and three inches of rain, D2 conditions prevailed.
Rainfall over the current and previous periods caused improvements in streamflow values in the 14-day average streamflow values across the state, with most of the gauges along streams and tributaries reporting values within normal ranges or above average values. Areas of the Upstate received heavy and beneficial rainfall. Gauges within the Broad, Catawba, and Saluda River basins recording below-normal stream flows reported vast improvements in flow values. Some river heights rose into the action and minor flood stages due to the heavy rains, while other gauges across the state reported levels below the flood stage. The passage of the low-pressure system at the beginning of the period caused tidal gauges to reach the minor flood stage on Monday and Tuesday.
