Cool and dry high pressure continued to build into the area on Monday, February 25, and prevailed through the middle of the week. The morning low temperatures ranged from the mid-20’s to the upper-40’s across the state. The National Weather Service (NWS) station at Walhalla in Oconee County observed a minimum temperature of 25 degrees, while a station in Moncks Corner (Berkeley County) recorded a low of 50 degrees. Under mostly clear skies and with plenty of sunshine, temperatures warmed into the mid-60’s across the state. Clear skies and calm winds provided the environment for radiational cooling to occur early Tuesday morning and low temperatures across portions of the Upstate dropped into the mid-20’s, and into the mid-40’s closer to the coast. Another mild day for the state, as high temperatures rose to the upper-60’s to nearly 70 degrees, which was five to ten degrees above normal.
By Wednesday, February 27, the center of the high pressure drifted off the Atlantic Coast and allowed the winds to shift to a more southerly flow, bringing increased moisture back into the region. Scattered showers were reported across much of the state, with rainfall totals less than a quarter of an inch. Maximum temperatures rose to the mid-60’s in the Upstate to the low-70’s near the coast, five to ten degrees above normal for this time of year. A backdoor cold front started to push its way into the Piedmont and Upstate areas during Wednesday evening, and widespread cloud cover helped keep morning low temperatures on Thursday morning up to fifteen degrees above normal, with many locations observing temperatures in the mid-40’s to mid-50’s. The backdoor cold front lingered over the area on Thursday, February 28, creating a temperature range of 59 degrees at the NWS station located at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to 76 degrees measured at the Charleston International Airport. The increased moisture brought overcast conditions and rain chances to the region, though most locations reported rainfall totals less than a quarter of an inch.
The first day of meteorological spring, Friday, March 1, started with the minimum temperatures up to 20 degrees warmer than normal, with upper 50’s recorded at many locations. The NWS stations at both the Greenwood and Anderson airports measured a low of 57 degrees, which is only three degrees different from their normal high of 60 degrees, highs were in the mid-60’s across much of the state. Widespread rain across the state dropped close to an inch in portions of the Midlands and Upstate. On Saturday, the day began with low temperatures in the mid-50’s at many locations, which were close to 15 degrees above normal, and the maximum temperatures rose to the mid-60’s and low 70’s under mostly sunny skies.
On Sunday, March 3, a cold air damming event set up across portions of the state, and high temperatures in the Piedmont and Upstate struggled to reach the mid-50’s. The NWS station at the Rock Hill/York County Airport recorded a high of 53 degrees, while a high of 74 degrees was measured at the station at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. The warmer temperatures in the Lowcountry and Midlands contributed to severe weather during the evening hours. As a strong low-pressure and associated cold front moved across the Southeast, it spawned a severe weather outbreak across Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Multiple tornado warnings were issued for portions of Aiken, Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Lexington, Orangeburg and Richland counties. In the Lowcountry, pea- to nickel-sized hail was reported in Charleston and Colleton counties and reports of wind damage were made in Hampton County. Across the Midlands, wind damage was observed in Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington and Richland counties. At the time of this report, NWS Columbia survey teams had confirmed three tornadoes that moved through the previously mentioned counties; strength and path information were not yet available.
Behind the front, colder air moved into the region, which would linger for most of the following work week before temperatures would rebound to more spring-like conditions.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 2.10 | 12.03 | 3.8 |
| Greer Airport | 1.51 | 13.50 | 5.3 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 2.32 | 12.36 | 5.2 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 1.71 | 5.57 | -2.0 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 1.16 | 5.50 | -2.5 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 1.59 | 7.06 | -1.2 |
| Florence Airport | 1.79 | 5.95 | -0.5 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 1.65 | 4.65 | -2.8/td> |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 0.30 | 2.65 | -4.4 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 1.21 | 4.64 | -2.2 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 50 degrees. Columbia: 61 degrees. Barnwell: 56 degrees. Mullins: 53 degrees.
Rainfall totals across the Palmetto State for the previous seven days ranged from half an inch in portions of the Lowcountry to over two inches in parts of the Midlands and Upstate. Above normal streamflow values continued to be reported for most of the rivers, creeks and streams in the northern portions of the state. Parts of the Congaree, Pee Dee, Saluda and Wateree rivers rose to minor and moderate flood stages. Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties’ rainfall totals are between four and twelve inches above normal since the beginning of the year. The Midlands and interior portions of the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions of the state are reporting slightly below normal to near normal rainfall. Streamflow values are close to normal flows for this time of year but could trend up as last week’s heavy rain moves through the river systems. Along the coast, the continued lack of rainfall in portions of Charleston, Georgetown and Horry counties is between four and six inches below normal since the beginning of the year.
Charleston Harbor (CHTS1): 60.6 degrees.
Capers Nearshore Buoy (Station 41029): 59.5 degrees.
Fripps Nearshore Buoy (Station 41033): Not Available.
The average temperatures for February 2019 were above normal at many of the reporting stations. The Charleston station had the fifth warmest February on record, and the eighth warmest on record for Florence and Greenville-Spartanburg. The Charleston station recorded the fifth driest February since 1938.The Columbia station reported measurable precipitation (>=0.01") on 14 days in February, and a Trace on three days. Despite the number of rain days, the station only reported 0.88" for the month, which is 2.73" below normal, and the sixth driest February.
Midlands: Columbia Metro Airport
Pee Dee: Florence Airport
Lowcountry: North Charleston Airport
Statewide
