An active southern jet stream delivered clouds and periodic rains all week. Lines of thunderstorms were observed Tuesday into Wednesday and included high winds ahead of a fast moving frontal boundary. At 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, Greer was reporting 38 degrees while a distant Charleston AP reported 72 degrees. The Greenville AP measured winds of 47 mph at 5:28 a.m. Wednesday morning. Wilmington, NC radar displayed cells over Kingstree moving east at 65 mph. Seventeen counties reported damaging wind gusts resulting in downed trees and power disruptions. Columbia Owens AP, Barnwell, Shaw AFB, Orangeburg AP, Jamestown and Sandy Run all warmed to 78 degrees Wednesday afternoon. The season's coldest air rolled into the state late Thursday. On Friday morning, the thermometer registered its lowest values of the season. Barnwell and Cedar Creek noted a morning low of 25 degrees and Little Mountain would only reach 37 degrees for an afternoon high temperature. More wet weather returned Saturday with the heaviest amounts falling along the coastal counties. Pritchardville received 2.28 inches and nearby Beaufort, 1.94 inches. A wedge of warm air eased northward along the beaches on Saturday, pushing temperatures to 63 degrees at Myrtle Beach and to 70 degrees at Charleston AP on Sunday. Outside of the coastal plain, temperatures were locked into the 40's with mist, drizzle and showers. Dense fog began forming during the evening hours Sunday. The state average temperature for the period was three degrees below normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 79 degrees at Pritchardville on December 9. The lowest official temperature reported was 17 degrees at Caesars Head on December 11. The heaviest official 24-hour rain reported was 2.73 inches at Table Rock ending at 7:00 a.m. on December 9. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.7 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 2.33 49.61 1.7
Anderson 2.26 52.85 8.4
Columbia 1.96 49.62 3.4
Orangeburg 1.47 42.67 -3.6
Charlotte, NC 1.79 44.64 3.0
Augusta, GA 2.50 46.52 3.9
Florence 1.38 37.79 -4.8
N Myrtle Beach 0.66 41.28 -2.4
Charleston 1.87 51.46 1.9
Savannah, GA 3.45 57.41 9.6
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 51 degrees, Charleston 54 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were above normal. Ocean water temperatures at nearby Fort Pulaski, GA, were reported at 57 degrees and at Ocean Crest Pier, NC, 56 degrees.
