WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2016

December 27, 2015 - January 3, 2016

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Record-setting warmth was observed through Wednesday, December 30. Date records on Monday were established at the Charleston AP (82 degrees) and at the Florence Regional AP and Columbia Metro AP (80 degrees). Sumter, Orangeburg and Beaufort all reached 80 degrees on Monday. More heavy rains fell during the late evening hours for much of the Upstate. Tuesday morning measurements included 2.48 inches at Table Rock State Park and 1.51 inches at Travelers Rest. The 69-degree minimum temperature (35 degrees above the date's average) recorded on Tuesday morning at Columbia Metro AP was not only a date record "highest low" but tied that location's any December "highest low." Florence Regional AP set another high temperature date record on Tuesday with 82 degrees. Steady rains developed before Wednesday's sunrise across the western counties. Flash flooding episodes were noted throughout the day in Anderson, Greenville, Abbeville, York, Chester, Laurens, Lancaster, Greenwood, Newberry, Fairfield and Lexington counties. At 5:00 p.m., the USGS gage at Newberry had received 4.18 inches in seven hours. Elsewhere, the Charleston AP recorded another date record 82 degrees, besting the 79 degrees set in 1990. Allendale and Lake City both reached 82 degrees. Rainfall measurements taken on Thursday morning included 5.05 inches at the Newberry NWS Cooperative network site WKDK radio station, 4.71 inches at Greenwood 8NE and 1.87 inches at Darlington. 2015's last day was cloudy, wet and mild. Summerville recorded 80 degrees on December 31. The December 2015 rainfall ranged from a high of 20.33 inches at Jocassee 8WNW to 1.59 inches in Sumter. The Columbia Metro AP December 2015 average temperature of 60.1 degrees was their highest of record. The year-ending total rainfall at Charleston AP of 74.89 inches was also a record. January 1, 2016 started with seasonal cooling entering the highest elevations and exiting showers. Sassafras Mountain reported a Friday morning minimum temperature of 38 degrees. Selected rainfall measurements taken at 7:00 a.m. indicated 24-hour totals of 1.13 inches at Holly Hill, 0.88 inches at Barnwell and Bamberg, and 0.85 inches at Myrtle Beach. Although Hilton Head Island started January 2016 with a 12:15 a.m. temperature of 68 degrees, periods of rain fell though the morning followed by an afternoon of clouds and brisk northerly winds. At 7:54 a.m. on January 2, the Rock Hill AP (KUZA) noted 31 degrees under clear skies. The Orangeburg AP high temperature of 53 degrees on January 2 was an abrupt seasonal change from the 80 degrees observed just three days earlier. Winter cold on Sunday morning moved the mercury to 28 degrees at Cedar Creek, 31 degrees at McEntire ANG AP and 32 degrees for Hartsville and Conway. At 3:00 p.m. Chester, Aiken, Manning and Moncks Corner were reporting 50 degrees under mostly overcast conditions. The Sunday high temperature of 55 degrees at Folly Beach was five degrees below the date's average.

The highest official temperature reported was 83 degrees at Cades on December 29. The lowest official temperature reported was 24 degrees at Sassafras Mountain and Caesars Head on January 2. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 6.80 inches at Jocassee 8WNW (Walhalla Fish Hatchery) ending at 7:00 a.m. on December 29. The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 1.9 inches. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was seventeen degrees above the long term average.

PRECIPITATION:

  Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Anderson AP 3.37 0.00 -0.4
Greer AP 3.34 0.00 -0.4
Charlotte, NC AP 3.61 0.00 -0.3
Columbia Metro AP 1.31 0.00 -0.3
Orangeburg AP 0.93 0.00 -0.3
Augusta, GA Bush AP 1.94 0.00 -0.4
Florence AP 1.47 0.03 -0.3
N Myrtle Beach AP 0.87 0.12 -0.2
Charleston AP 0.90 0.55 0.2
Savannah, GA AP 0.43 0.41 0.1

Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 58 degrees, Charleston 59 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. The Charleston Harbor Ravenel Bridge reported a water temperature of 63 degrees. Springmaid Pier at Myrtle Beach reported a surf water temperature of 61 degrees.