After early day rains on Monday, skies began clearing mid-afternoon on dry and colder northwest winds. Frost returned with Tuesday morning's freezing temperatures across central and western locations. A second push of reinforcing cold air arrived during the afternoon. Both Florence and Columbia measured west winds gusting to 40 mph. Table Rock, at an elevation of 1020 feet, reported snow flurries. Arctic-sourced high pressure overspread the entire state on Wednesday. At 10:00 a.m., Florence recorded a barometric pressure of 30.65 inches. Morning temperatures dropped into the 20's Wednesday and Thursday. A rapid warming trend developed Friday as surface winds became more southerly. Unseasonable 70-degree afternoons were observed from the beaches into the foothills through the weekend. For the period, the state average temperature was five degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 77 degrees at Summerville on January 13. The lowest official temperature reported was 19 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of January 11. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.69 inches at Table Rock ending at 7:00 a.m. on January 8. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.2 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 55 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 56 degrees.
For additional information contact tylerw@dnr.sc.gov or by calling (803) 734-9100.
