SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Sunny and cooler weather was observed early in the week. Frost was reported across rural sites from the midlands and sites westward on both Monday and Tuesday mornings. Afternoon temperatures Wednesday and Thursday responded to more southerly winds with mid-70 degree warmth. Thunderstorms erupted late afternoon Thursday ahead of a cold front. Rainfall totals of around two inches were measured in the upstate and Pee Dee areas. Sunny, yet much cooler, conditions followed into Saturday. Clouds increased on Sunday preceding another frontal boundary. Statewide temperatures for the period averaged near normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The maximum observed temperature was 78 degrees at Charleston AP, Pee Dee, Dillon, Cades and Jamestown on March 16. The minimum observed temperature was 21 degrees at Lake Bowen on the morning of March 13. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.44" at Loris ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 17. Statewide average rainfall for the period was 0.7".

                        Precipitation
                Period  2000    Deviation*            Temperature
Location        Total   Total   From Avg.          Maximum    Minimum
Greer           1.25     7.7     4.3B                 69         28
Columbia        0.47    12.5     0.7A                 76         31
Florence        0.79     6.8     2.6B                 77         32
Charleston      0.70     7.5     2.0B                 78         36
Myrtle Beach    0.30     7.3     2.3B                 75         33
Augusta, Ga.    0.52     8.8     2.7B                 78         29

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7 am Monday through ending 7 am Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 62 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF Most South Carolina rivers are near normal and rising. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 58 degrees.