SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

December 4 - December 10, 2006

WEATHER SUMMARY

Frosty mornings, sunny, clear afternoons and near-60 degree temperatures were observed on both Monday and Tuesday. Mild weather was reported Wednesday ahead of the first of a series of cold waves to affect the state, beginning Thursday. North winds, forcing dense, Arctic-sourced air southward, gusted to 39 mph at Greer NWS. The cold advection covered the entire state Friday morning, making for the first seasonal freeze along the southern beaches and Charleston City. Saturday's early morning minimum temperatures set date records at Columbia AP(16), Charleston AP(19), Florence AP(17), and N Myrtle Beach AP(19). At 10:00 a.m., Charleston reported a peak barometric pressure of 30.63 inches. High temperatures, despite a full day of sun, only climbed into the lower 40's. Sunday ended the cold and dry week with high clouds and moderating conditions. For the period, the state average temperature was nine degrees below normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 71 degrees at Summerville on December 6. The lowest official temperature reported was 9 degrees at Pelion on the morning of December 9. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.0 inches.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                           
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           0.00   37.49    -10.1
      Columbia           0.00   40.39     -5.5 
    Orangeburg           0.00   36.18     -9.6 
 Charlotte, NC           0.00   42.08      0.8             	
   Augusta, GA           0.00   35.63     -6.7  
      Florence           0.00   45.03      2.8
  Myrtle Beach           0.00   49.35      6.0
    Charleston           0.00   47.16     -2.1     
  Savannah, GA    	 0.00   31.74    -15.8







Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.  

SOIL: 4-inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 51 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF: South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 53 degrees.