SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

March 14 - March 20, 2005

WEATHER SUMMARY

A nearly stationary front early in the week made for cloudy and cool weather. Rains developed along the boundary Wednesday and continued into Thursday. Afternoon high temperatures in the 40's were well below normal. More sunshine and moderating warmth occurred over the weekend. On Sunday, the first day of Spring 2005, brisk southwest winds pushed the mercury into the low 70's. For the period, the state average temperature was six degrees below normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 75 degrees at Orangeburg on March 20. The lowest official temperature reported was 24 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of March 18. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.42 inches at Bennettsville ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 17. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 1.0 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           0.77     6.1       -6.1
      Columbia           0.79     7.5       -4.0       
    Orangeburg           1.14     7.3       -4.3
 Charlotte, NC           1.22     6.4       -4.1 
   Augusta, GA           0.97     9.2       -2.5
      Florence           1.32     6.8       -2.9           
  Myrtle Beach           1.26     4.6       -5.2
    Charleston           0.49     5.4       -4.4         
  Savannah, GA  	 1.38     5.1       -4.1



Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 59 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 57 degrees.