WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2011

March 7, 2011 - March 13, 2011

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Much of inland South Carolina reported frost on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Pre-frontal rains began developing over the westernmost mountains on Tuesday evening. At 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Columbia AP reported 71 degrees with southeast winds of 28 mph, gusting to 43 mph. Areas of rain, with occasional thunder, moved eastward during the overnight hours into Thursday. Long Creek measured a two-day rainfall total of 3.18 inches. Colder air was drawn into the exiting wet weather. Pelion, Saluda and Cedar Creek observed a hard freeze on Saturday morning with 25 degrees. A sharp rebound to warmer conditions was observed on Saturday afternoon. The thermometer at Hunts Bridge indicated a rise of 50 degrees from an early morning low temperature of 26 degrees to 76 degrees. Effingham, Andrews, Walhalla, Columbia, Shaw AFB, Bamberg and Sandy Run all recorded a Sunday high temperature of 80 degrees. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was near normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 82 degrees at Givhans and Witherbee on March 13. The lowest official temperature reported was 22 degrees at Caesars Head on March 8. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.72 inches at Jocassee ending at 7:00 a.m. on March 10. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.7 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                             Precipitation                                                     
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           1.11    9.65     -1.3
      Anderson           1.16    8.74     -2.1
      Columbia           0.77    6.92     -3.6
    Orangeburg           0.40    6.65     -3.8
 Charlotte, NC           0.98    6.80     -2.7
   Augusta, GA           0.74    7.49     -3.2
      Florence           0.60    5.72     -3.1
N Myrtle Beach           0.17    6.70     -2.2
    Charleston           0.58    6.16     -2.7
  Savannah, GA           0.71    7.26     -1.1
                  
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 58 degrees, Charleston 58 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near to below normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 55 degrees.