Seasonal temperatures were observed Monday with Clinton reporting 54 degrees and Givhans 59 degrees. Unstable air entered the southern counties Tuesday morning with areas of heavy rain and reports of thunder. The Georgetown AP warmed to 61 degrees and nearby Andrews measured 0.80 inches of rain. A strong cold front rolled through the state overnight and at 5:10 a.m. the wind sensor at Pineville, near Lake Moultrie, recorded a wind gust of 50 mph. The Newberry AP measured winds as high as 47 mph and both the Florence AP and Bennettsville AP peaked at 44 mph. More cold settled into the state Thursday morning. Table Rock and Long Creek reported a low temperature of 20 degrees. Winter weather precipitation was observed Friday as an area of low pressure tracked across the Gulf States bringing heavy snows to South Carolina. The first flakes were noted at 2:46 p.m., mixing with rain, over Lake Moultrie. Orangeburg and Anderson reported snow at 3:00 p.m. Belts of accumulating snow fell from the mountains to the coast. The greatest amount measured was at the Columbia AP and totaled 8.6 inches, the heaviest snow at that site in 37 years. The Saint Stephen Fire Rescue in Berkeley County reported 8 inches and the Smoaks Fire Department in Colleton County measured 7 inches. Trained spotters reported 7-inch depths in Dorchester County. Further up the coast, Georgetown and Conway each received 4.5 inches. West to east clearing and sunny blue skies returned during the day on Saturday and contributed to fast melting. Sunday morning temperatures fell to 18 degrees at Pelion, 21 at Hartsville and 27 at Walterboro. Fair conditions and subsiding winds helped Barnwell and Ft. Moultrie warm to 56 degrees on Sunday afternoon. The state average temperature for the period was 8 degrees below normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 63 degrees at the Charleston AP, Givhans, Summerville and Beaufort on February 9. The lowest official temperature reported was 15 degrees at Hunts Bridge on February 14. The heaviest official 24-hour rain reported was 0.91 inches at Hardeeville ending at 7:00 a.m. on February 13. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.5 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 0.34 8.71 2.3
Anderson 0.41 8.31 1.7
Columbia 0.50 5.16 -1.4
Orangeburg 0.61 7.18 0.6
Charlotte, NC 0.34 7.81 2.1
Augusta, GA 0.42 7.21 0.7
Florence 0.58 5.52 -0.1
N Myrtle Beach 0.48 5.37 0.0
Charleston 0.60 8.69 3.1
Savannah, GA 0.83 9.06 3.6
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 45 degrees, Charleston 44 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were near to above normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 46 degrees.
