The state enjoyed a tranquil start to the holiday week, as high pressure remained in control of the weather pattern on Monday, November 25. Overnight temperatures were cool, with temperatures in the 30s across much of the state, between five to ten degrees below normal. A few National Weather Service (NWS) stations reported morning lows in the upper 20s, such as the stations located at Jocassee (27 degrees), Lake Greenwood (28 degrees) and Spartanburg (29 degrees). High temperatures were near normal, in the low to mid-60s. The dry air and temperature trends continued into Tuesday, as the area of high pressure shifted offshore. Morning temperatures were cool, while daytime highs were slightly warmer, reaching the upper 60s.
On Wednesday, November 27, high temperatures ahead of an approaching cold front rose into the mid-70s in eastern portions of the state, including a maximum of 76 degrees reported at the NWS station located at the Charleston International Airport. As the cold front moved through the state late in the day, it caused spotty shower activity in some areas. Behind the front, fair and seasonable conditions were on hand for Thanksgiving, with low temperatures in the 40s and highs in the 60s. The surface high continued to influence the weather on Friday, despite shifting offshore, and, under mostly clear skies, temperatures remained near normal for the end of November.
The high pressure maintained the dry and cool weather on Saturday, November 30, as a strong cold front started to approach the region. The front moved through the region late during the evening and overnight hours, and some isolated thunderstorms developed ahead of the cold front. CoCoRaHS observers in the Upstate reported 24-hour rainfall totals ending Sunday morning between half an inch and an inch. As the front continued to push through the state, wind advisories were issued as breezy conditions set up behind the front. Wind gusts as high as 30 mph were recorded in the Midlands and up to 35 mph in parts of the Upstate, making for some difficult travel conditions during the holiday weekend. Temperatures during the weekend ranged from lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s, with highs in the mid to upper 60s.
(Note: The highest and lowest official temperatures and highest precipitation totals provided below are based on observations from the National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer network and the National Weather Service's Forecast Offices.)| Weekly* | Since Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Airport | 0.55 | 35.05 | -5.2 |
| Greer Airport | 0.80 | 45.55 | 2.3 |
| Charlotte, NC Airport | 1.35 | 49.31 | 10.8 |
| Columbia Metro Airport | 0.30 | 33.22 | -8.3 |
| Orangeburg Airport | 0.30 | 25.67 | -17.9 |
| Augusta, GA Airport | 0.33 | 43.07 | 2.8 |
| Florence Airport | 0.32 | 39.02 | -1.0 |
| North Myrtle Beach Airport | 0.37 | 50.94 | 2.3 |
| Charleston Air Force Base | 0.09 | 42.97 | -5.0 |
| Savannah, GA Airport | 0.32 | 44.86 | -0.2 |
| *Weekly precipitation totals ending midnight Sunday. M - denotes total with missing values. |
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton: 48 degrees. Columbia: 57 degrees. Barnwell: 51 degrees. Mullins: 55 degrees.
The wet pattern during the period, and throughout November, provided beneficial rain that eased the moderate to severe drought conditions that impacted the region during September and October. Much of the rain during the reporting period fell as a result of the cold front which pushed through the region on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the National Weather Service stations and CoCoRaHS observers across the state reported measurable rainfall, with reports of up to an inch and a half of rain in the Piedmont and Upstate. However, portions of the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions reported less than a quarter of an inch of rain over the last seven days. Year-to-date rainfall totals have rebounded and are now between 75 and 90 percent of normal across much of the state, though some parts of the Central Savannah River Area and the Midlands are lower, and areas in the mountainous Upstate are higher. The consistent rainfall over the last few weeks has brought increased streamflow values across the entire state. However, a few USGS river gauges continued to show below-normal flows on their 14-day flow product along parts of the Savannah (despite being regulated) and in portions of the Pee Dee Basin.
Charleston Harbor (CHTS1): 58.8 degrees.
Capers Nearshore Buoy (Station 41029): Not Available.
Fripps Nearshore Buoy (Station 41033): 60.4
