The mild conditions throughout Monday were replaced by a colder airmass arriving by a modified front by Tuesday. Morning temperatures fell into the 20's at the usual cold spots. With the exception of lingering clouds along the southern coast, most of the state was sunny. A warming trend began on Wednesday. Moist, onshore surface winds contributed to a few showers moving south to north along the coastal counties Thursday morning. Stormy weather developed Upstate Friday in the form of thunderstorms, high winds and isolated tornadoes. At 2:00 p.m., Anderson was reporting heavy rain and south winds gusting to 47 mph. A half-hour later, Liberty, in Pickens County, was hit by a violent and localized twister that tossed automobiles and injured more than a dozen. Mid 70-degree afternoon temperatures were common from the Midlands to the beaches. Clear weather was observed Saturday ahead of Sunday's return to clouds and an expanding coverage of thundershowers through midnight. For the period, the state average temperature was twelve degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 78 degrees at Jamestown on January 5 and at Orangeburg on January 6. The lowest official temperature reported was 24 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of January 3. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.05 inches at Pickens ending at 7:00 a.m. on January 6. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.5 inches.
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Deviation
Total Total From Avg
Greer 3.20 3.20 2.2
Columbia 1.19 1.19 0.2
Orangeburg 1.25 1.25 0.3
Charlotte, NC 2.15 2.15 1.3
Augusta, GA 1.02 1.02 0.1
Florence 0.47 0.47 -0.5
Myrtle Beach 1.08 1.08 0.3
Charleston 1.38 1.38 0.5
Savannah, GA 1.00 1.00 0.1
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 59 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 58 degrees.
For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.
