WEATHER SUMMARY
Mostly sunny weather was observed early in the week with a few passing showers along the southern coast on Tuesday. Warm southerly surface winds on Wednesday pushed afternoon temperatures to Springlike conditions with many sites reporting mid-70 degree highs. Stormy weather followed early and throughout the day on Thursday. A few isolated thunderstorms produced high winds and flash flooding. Rivers across central and eastern South Carolina responded to the heavy rains by reaching or exceeding flood stage. Northeast winds, falling temperatures and rain on Friday made it feel like Winter once again. Temperatures started a rebound on Saturday peaking back in the 70's on Sunday. Isolated thunderstorms Sunday night ended the week. The average statewide temperature for the period was two degrees above normal.
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA
The highest temperature reported was 76 degrees at Charleston on March 5. The lowest temperature was 24 degrees at Caesars Head on the morning of March 3. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.13" at Antreville ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 6. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 2.1".
Precipitation
Period 2003 Deviation* Temperature
Location Total Total From Avg. Maximum Minimum
Greer 1.22 7.25 3.0B 74 31
Columbia 1.84 7.64 2.2B 75 35
Florence 0.59 4.05 4.2B 73 29
Charleston 1.38 5.89 2.4B 76 42
N Myrtle Beach 1.22 5.65 2.7B 69 33
Augusta, Ga. 1.07 7.87 2.1B 75 34
A=Above, B=Below
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the 24-hour period ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL
4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 56 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF
South Carolina river stages were reported above normal with several at or above flood stage.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 54 degrees.
sco@water.dnr.state.sc.us http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sco/weekly/wk030903.html