SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND CLIMATE

     The week began on a warm note with afternoon temperatures climbing into
the 80's.  Cooler air, under building high pressure gradually filled into the
southeast on Tuesday, April 8 through Friday, April 11.  On Thursday and
Friday mornings minimum temperatures dropped below or near freezing with
scattered frost reported across the north midlands and westward towards the
upstate's higher elevations.  Brief warming occurred on Friday afternoon
prior to the passing of another late season cold front Saturday.  Showers
and thunderstorms were reported overnight on Friday and Saturday into mid-
afternoon. The week ended under mostly sunny skies and temperatures near
seasonal normals.  Statewide temperatures for the period averaged 2 degrees
below normal across the upstate, 2 degrees above normal across the midlands
and near normal along the coast.

     The maximum observed temperature was 85 degrees on April 7 at Holly
Hill, Kingstree and Williams.  The minimum observed temperature was 27
degrees at Cedar Creek and Salem on the morning of April 10.  The heaviest
official 24-hour rainfall was recorded at Pickens with 2.00" ending at 7:00
a.m. on April 13.  Statewide rainfall for the period averaged 1.1".

               Precipitation
               Period     1997     Deviation*          Temperature
Location       Total      Total     From Avg.        Maximum Minimum   
Greer          0.51       14.5        1.2B             73       34
Charlotte, NC  0.94       11.5        1.7B             75       35
Columbia       0.48       10.9        4.0B             81       35            
Florence FAA   0.79       10.2        2.0B             84       36   
Blackville     0.49       11.3        2.9B             83       38
Augusta, GA    0.26       11.2        3.3B             79       35   
Beaufort       1.36       10.2        2.2B             83       46 
Charleston     1.84       9.2         3.2B             84       40
Myrtle Beach   3.20       13.7        0.2A             84       37
*A=Above, B=Below                                                                       

                             Degree Days          
                              Actual  
                       April 1-13
                    Cooling   Heating              
Columbia             20         55 
Charleston           26         54
Greenville           2          101
                                                                                            
     Temperatures are expected to average near normal for the week.
Rainfall is expected to be near normal. The Sandhill Experiment Station in
north Columbia reports an average 4-inch depth soil temperature of 68 degrees.

    River stages are near normal.
    Surf temperatures at Myrtle Beach and Savannah will average around
    65 degrees.