SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     A frosty morning started the week for western sites across the state.
Low temperatures on Monday morning ranged from the upper 20's to mid 30's.
Gradual warming occurred into Tuesday prior to a weak cold front passing
through the state on Wednesday. Most of the state received showers although
amounts were generally light.  Cooler, drier air controlled the weather on
Thursday and Friday.  On Saturday, March 22, west winds and clear, sunny
skies sent the mercury well into the 80's.  Another cold front quickly passed
late on Saturday with surfacewinds shifting more northerly and temperatures
falling around 15 degrees.  High pressure provided sunny, cool conditions as
the week ended.  Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 3 degrees
above normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 88 degrees on March 22 at Holly
Hill.  The minimum observed temperature was 25 degrees at Cedar Creek on the
morning of March 17.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at
Kershaw with 0.90" ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 20.  Statewide rainfall for
the period averaged 0.3".
        
                   Precipitation
                Period     1997    Deviation*             Temperature
Location        Total      Total   From Avg.           Maximum    Minimum   
Greer           0.36       12.8       0.2A               81          31
Charlotte, NC   0.44       9.3        1.7B               79          33
Columbia        0.04       9.9        2.3B               84          31                     
Florence FAA    0.24       9.1        0.9B               85          31   
Blackville      0.41       10.7       1.0B               85          34
Augusta, GA     0.37       10.0       1.9B               86          33   
Beaufort        0.12       8.5        1.5B               86          44 
Charleston      0.30       6.9        3.2B               87          36
Myrtle Beach    0.40       10.0       1.1B               85          36
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

                             Degree Days          
                          Actual  
                        Mar. 1-23 
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia              39        128 
Charleston            53        84
Greenville            7         177
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near to above normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal.The Sandhill Experiment Station in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 65 degrees.

    River stages are near to above normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach
and Savannah will average around 61 degrees.