WEEKLY SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER 2009

December 21, 2009 - December 27, 2009

WEATHER SUMMARY:

The first day of Winter 2009 began Monday with a frosty start. Sunny, cold weather continued through Wednesday. Clouds increased on Thursday along a boundary of warmer air and the forecast of rain. Christmas Day Friday dawned with rain crossing the Savannah River basin into South Carolina. Locations within the Midlands reported several hours of heavy rain that resulted in localized flash flooding and standing water. Columbia received 3.06 inches of rain and established a record heaviest amount for December 25. Both Holly Hill and Orangeburg reported a mild afternoon high temperature of 69 degrees. The cloudy and damp conditions lingered through Saturday. Slow clearing from west to east occurred Sunday for the Upstate but overcast skies with light showers were observed for coastal counties. The state average temperature for the period was two degrees below normal.

The highest official temperature reported was 71 degrees at Pritchardville and Givhans on December 25. The lowest official temperature reported was 21 degrees at Hunts Bridge on December 21. The heaviest official 24-hour rain reported was 3.60 inches at Longtown ending at 7:00 a.m. on December 26. The state average rainfall for the period was 1.4 inches.

PRECIPITATION:

                            
                           Precipitation                    
                       Weekly   Jan 1   Departure     
                        Total   Total   from Avg
         Greer           1.63   52.67      3.0
      Anderson           1.30   56.00      9.8
      Columbia           3.06   54.70      7.0
    Orangeburg           1.59   46.13     -1.6
 Charlotte, NC           2.34   47.90      4.8
   Augusta, GA           1.83   50.30      6.2
      Florence           1.39   40.20     -4.0
N Myrtle Beach           0.59   44.85     -0.4
    Charleston           0.85   55.78      4.7
  Savannah, GA           0.50   60.91     11.8   









Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.

SOIL:

4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 50 degrees, Charleston 55 degrees.

RIVERS AND SURF:

South Carolina river stages were above normal. Ocean water temperatures at nearby Fort Pulaski, GA, were reported at 55 degrees and at Ocean Crest Pier, NC, 54 degrees.