SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     Mostly cloudy skies started the first week of Fall 1997 as a frontal
boundary lingered west to east across the state.  A welcomed change to a
wet weather pattern occurred on Wednesday, September 24.  Low pressure over
the central gulf states began to draw into its circulation deep tropical
moisture.  Heavy rains, moving in a general south to north direction,
provided a steady recharge to dry South Carolina soils, the result of nearly
two months of below normal rainfall.  Periods of showers, some heavy,
continued through the weekend.  Between Wednesday and Sunday, Edisto Beach
received 9.23 inches of rain.  Slow clearing was observed on Sunday in
western sections.  Statewide temperatures for the period averaged one degree
below normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 89 degrees on September 23 at
Williams.  The minimum observed temperature was 52 degrees at Clinton and
York on the morning of the 25th.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at Pelion with 5.00" ending at 7:00 a.m. September 26.
Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 3.9 inches.

                   Precipitation
                  Period     1997         Deviation*        Temperature
Location          Total      Total         From Avg.      Maximum   Minimum   
Greer             2.50       37.3            2.0B           83        54
Charlotte, NC     3.06       37.0            4.2A           85        55
Columbia          4.20       34.0            6.2B           88        58            
Florence FAA      3.06       38.0            2.6A           86        59   
Blackville        4.23       40.2            2.1A           87        57
Augusta, GA       5.04       33.4            2.4B           89        59
Beaufort     Est  5.25       39.4            3.5B           84        64 
Charleston        5.26       50.0            7.3A           86        64
Myrtle Beach      3.96       40.5            1.1B           84        64
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                   
Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the prior 24-hrs ending 7:00 a.m.
Monday through ending 7:00 a.m. Sunday

                       Degree Days      
                         Actual  
                       Sept. 1-28
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia             292      3
Charleston           318      0
Greenville           216      8           
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.  Rainfall
is expected to be near normal.
     The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an
average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 70 degrees.

    River stages are below normal and rising.
    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 76
    degrees.