SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

December 24 - 30, 2001

WEATHER SUMMARY

Wintertime temperatures ended the last full week of the year 2001. On Christmas evening a few reports of sleet and snow flurries were noted across the midlands. Otherwise, the week was without any measurable precipitation. Sub-freezing temperatures, courtesy of a southward settling Arctic air mass, sent early morning temperatures on Thursday into the upper teens and mid 20's. Brisk winds created an uncomfortable wind chill. A brief relief was observed on Saturday as surface winds shifted more southerly allowing afternoon temperatures to warm to near 70 degrees over central counties. Cloudy skies on Sunday held daytime highs to around 50 degrees. For the period, the state average temperature was three degrees below normal.

PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE DATA

The highest temperature was 71 degrees at Orangeburg on December 29. The lowest temperature reported was 17 degrees at Chester and Salem on the morning of December 27. The average statewide rainfall for the period was 0.0".

                     Precipitation
               Period    2001    Deviation*          Temperature
Location        Total   Total    From Avg.       Maximum    Minimum	
Greer            0.00   40.38       10.8B           60         23                         	              		
Columbia         0.00   27.98       21.8B           65         25
Florence         0.00   30.83       12.9B           NA         NA	        
Charleston       0.00   40.00       11.4B           NA         NA
N Myrtle Beach   0.00   39.57       10.1B           NA         NA
Augusta, Ga.     0.00   33.55       11.0B           67         21 
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       
                                                                 
                                                                      
                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                            

Note: Weekly rainfall amounts are for the period ending midnight Monday through midnight Sunday

SOIL

4 inch depth average soil temperature: Columbia 53 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF

South Carolina river stages were below normal.
Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around 55 degrees.