Northwest winds gusted to 37 mph at Florence AP as clearing skies joined building high pressure on Monday. The Rock Hill AP recorded a frigid 17 degrees on Tuesday morning. At 11:06 a.m., Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach observed their lowest surf water temperature of the season at 42.6 degrees. Gradual temperature rises began on Wednesday and continued into the weekend. Most of the state reported above freezing sunrise temperatures on Friday. Barnwell warmed to 73 degrees during the afternoon. The December 2010 rainfall totals ranged from 5.13 inches at Table Rock to 1.16 inches at Greenville-Spartanburg. December 2010 also ranked as the coldest of record for the Florence AP. The 2011 New Year began with dense fog and visibilities of less than one-quarter of a mile for much of the state. South winds contributed to fast warming. The low temperature at Charleston was a mild 52 degrees. Hardeeville and Ridgeville reported afternoon high temperatures of 73 degrees. Rains entered the Upstate during the middle of the day on Saturday and spread east. Jocassee Dam measured a 24-hour total of 0.98 inches. Batesburg received 0.57 inches and McCormick received 0.55 inches. Both airports in Columbia recorded Sunday 69-degree high temperatures. On Sunday evening, what was left of the showers and mild air was exiting the coastal counties and winter's cold was returning from the northwest. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was near normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 74 degrees at Andrews on January 1. The lowest official temperature reported was 15 degrees at Chesnee on December 28. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.30 inches at Long Creek ending at 7:00 a.m. on January 2. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.3 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 0.62 00.62 0.4
Anderson 0.62 00.62 0.3
Columbia 0.26 00.26 0.0
Orangeburg 0.22 00.22 0.0
Charlotte, NC 0.37 00.37 0.1
Augusta, GA 0.25 00.25 0.0
Florence 0.18 00.18 -0.1
N Myrtle Beach 0.11 00.11 -0.1
Charleston 0.16 00.16 -0.1
Savannah, GA 0.13 00.13 -0.1
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 52 degrees, Charleston 54 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 45 degrees.
