SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

December 6 - December 12, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

The first full week of December experienced spring-like temperatures in the mid 70s for many locations. Monday's afternoon temperatures hovered near normal with highs generally in the mid to upper 50s; however, the nighttime lows were mild with temperatures only dropping into the low 50s. By Tuesday, temperatures started climbing and, under a bright, blue sky Wednesday afternoon, reached the mid 70s for many sites. A warm front lifted north across much of the state Thursday keeping temperatures unseasonably warm, while helping produce rain and thunderstorms with some reports of severe weather. Rain varied from over three inches in the Upstate to less than a quarter of an inch along the coast. Temperatures on Friday remained in the 70s before cool high pressure caused temperatures to drop 20 degrees with highs generally in the 50s and lows in the 30s on Saturday and Sunday. For the period, the state average temperature was six degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 79 degrees at Jamestown on December 7, Allendale on December 8 and at Allendale, Jamestown, and Witherbee on December 9. The lowest official temperature reported was 25 degrees at Hunts Bridge on the morning of December 12. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 4.42 inches at Greenville ending at 7:00 a.m. on December 10. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches.”

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

                         
                            Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1  Deviation     
                        Total   Total   From Avg
         Greer           4.82    46.3       -1.6
      Columbia           0.42    40.9       -5.2          
    Orangeburg           0.19    39.2       -6.1
 Charlotte, NC           1.92    43.5       +1.9 
   Augusta, GA           0.31    39.7       -2.8 
      Florence           0.39    41.5       -1.0           
  Myrtle Beach           0.47    44.9       +1.4
    Charleston           0.15    38.4      -11.1         
  Savannah, GA  	 0.34    35.8      -11.9

Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.            
                                      
    

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 58 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 59 degrees.