WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2009

October 19, 2009 - October 25, 2009

WEATHER SUMMARY:

Parts of the state observed the first frost of the season on Monday morning. Locations northwest of a line extending from near Saluda to Camden reported minimum temperatures of 32 degrees or less. Unlimited visibility accompanied the clear blue skies on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Much warmer weather began on Wednesday as light surface winds shifted to a more southerly direction. Coastal counties reported high temperatures on Thursday in the lower 80's. After a few hours of dense fog on Friday morning, the rest of the state saw a return to late summer-like temperatures. Chester recorded a high temperature on Friday afternoon of 80 degrees. At the same time, showers began entering the Upstate in advance of slow moving frontal boundary. By Saturday morning, Pickens had received 0.51 inches. Periods of light rain fell eastward into Saturday afternoon before late day clearing and breezy conditions arrived. The boundary became somewhat stationary with clouds returning for Sunday. Northeast surface winds combined with overcast skies to limit inland warming and most sites only managed high temperatures in the lower 60's. The few exceptions were along the beaches where a shallow layer of warm air helped the thermometer register 78 degrees at Georgetown Airport and Jamestown. The state average temperature for the period was 3 degrees above normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 85 degrees at McEntire ANG AP, Barnwell and Sandy Run on October 23 and at Cades, Andrews, Georgetown AP, Charleston AP and Jamestown on October 24. The lowest official temperature reported was 28 degrees at Chesnee on October 19, 20. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 1.06 inches at Table Rock ending at 7:00 a.m. on October 24. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.1 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                            
                         Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           0.06   36.45     -5.4
      Anderson           0.10   39.88      1.4
      Columbia           0.19   39.79     -1.7
    Orangeburg           0.02   34.64     -6.8
 Charlotte, NC           0.27   34.25     -2.1
   Augusta, GA           0.06   34.19     -4.0
      Florence           0.04   30.50     -7.7
N Myrtle Beach           0.00   29.49     -9.3
    Charleston           0.01   43.38     -1.8
  Savannah, GA           0.00   48.04      4.2   

                    





Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 68 degrees, Charleston 72 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were near normal. Ocean water temperatures at nearby Fort Pulaski, GA, were reported at 71 degrees and at Ocean Crest Pier, NC, 69 degrees.