SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

December 13 - 19, 2004

WEATHER SUMMARY

The southern coast enjoyed a mild day on Monday before a sharp cold front swept through the state. Gusting northwest winds between Tuesday and Thursday held daytime high temperatures in the 40's while morning low temperatures fell into the teens. All sites except the Charleston peninsula reported a freeze. Mostly sunny and milder weather was observed into Sunday. The week's second cold wave began Sunday evening with rapidly falling temperatures and scattered reports of snow flurries. For the period, the state average temperature was five degrees below normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 67 degrees at Beaufort on December 13. The lowest official temperature reported was 12 degrees at Johnston on the morning of December 16. 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    46.3       -2.4
      Columbia           0.00    40.9       -5.9          
    Orangeburg           0.00    39.2       -6.6
 Charlotte, NC           0.00    43.5       +1.2 
   Augusta, GA           0.00    39.7       -3.5 
      Florence           0.01    41.5       -1.8           
  Myrtle Beach           0.04    45.0       +0.6
    Charleston           0.01    38.4      -11.8         
  Savannah, GA  	 0.00    35.8      -12.6

Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.            
                         
                                   
    

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 50 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 51 degrees.