SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     After a cloudy and wet start on Monday, high pressure provided a sunny,
cool day on Tuesday.  On both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings frost was
observed in western and northern counties.  During the middle of the week
skies became cloudy once again along a nearly stationary boundary.  Low
pressure moving through the state on Friday evening limited outdoor trick or
treat activities with rainshowers.  Saturday was sunny early in the day prior
to a cold fronts arrival that night.  Thunderstorms with reports of high
winds accompanied the front.  Bright, blue skies returned for Sunday with
afternoon temperatures peaking in the 60's over most of the state.  Statewide
temperatures for the period averaged 3 degrees below normal.

     The maximum observed temperature was 74 degrees on October 30 at
Orangeburg.  The minimum observed temperature was 29 degrees at Walhalla and
York on the morning of October 28.  The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall
was recorded at  with 6.14" on October 26.  Statewide rainfall for the
period averaged 1.6 inches.

                Precipitation
               Period     1997      Deviation*       Temperature
Location       Total      Total     From Avg.    Maximum    Minimum   
Greer          0.89       42.8       0.9B        66         34
Charlotte, NC  1.65       40.9       5.0A        73         39
Columbia       1.64       39.6       4.1B        70         37            
Florence FAA   1.36       40.8       3.1A        77         39   
Blackville     0.25       44.0       3.4A        75         43
Augusta, GA    1.87       38.1       0.3B        75         41
Beaufort       0.45       41.2       4.1B        77         48 
Charleston     2.25       55.3       9.2A        72         41
Myrtle Beach   0.36       42.3       3.0B        75         42
*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  
                        Oct. 1-31
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia            85        143
Charleston          E131      82
Greenville          43        168         
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near to below normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near to below normal.
     The Sandhill Research and Education Center in north Columbia reports an
average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 58 degrees.

    River stages are near normal and rising.
    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 65
degrees.