Very warm, spring weather was observed on Monday. Summerville, Bamberg and Columbia each reported high temperatures of 89 degrees. A cold front moved through the state on Tuesday. Scattered, light rains accompanied the boundary with gusting winds. At 2:00 p.m., the Clemson AP recorded west winds of 24 mph, gusting to 40 mph. Table Rock and West Pelzer noted 39 degrees on Wednesday morning, ahead of nearly thirteen hours of available sunshine. High clouds eased into the state on Thursday along with slowly rising temperatures. The weekend started with heavy rains concentrated over the mountains. On Saturday morning, Long Creek, located in the far-western corner of Oconee County, had received 2.42 inches of rain since Friday evening. The week's second cold front raced eastward Saturday afternoon and was blamed on episodes of severe and damaging weather. Hail measured at 1.75-inch diameter fell within Orangeburg, Berkeley, Williamsburg, Florence, Georgetown and Horry counties. Law enforcement in Clarendon County reported "softball-sized" hailstones at 3:28 p.m. Only minutes after 5:00 p.m., a funnel cloud transitioned into a water spout over Lake Moultrie, then became an EF1 tornado before destroying a church near St. Stephen. Other possible tornadoes were reported at Andrews and near Little Rock, in Dillon County. Bishopville received one of the heavier rainfalls of 1.19 inches. Most of South Carolina enjoyed a mild and sunny, Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the middle 70's. Effingham, located in Florence County, warmed to 81 degrees. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was four degrees above normal.
The highest official temperature reported was 90 degrees at Givhans and Witherbee on April 11. The lowest official temperature reported was 36 degrees at Chesnee on April 14. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 2.56 inches at Jocassee Dam ending at 7:00 a.m. on April 16. The state average rainfall for the period was 0.4 inches.
PRECIPITATION:
Precipitation
Weekly Jan 1 Departure
Total Total from Avg
Greer 1.82 16.26 0.3
Anderson 0.93 13.55 -2.6
Columbia 0.17 10.67 -4.3
Orangeburg 0.11 10.96 -4.0
Charlotte, NC 1.23 12.21 -1.5
Augusta, GA 0.11 12.45 -2.6
Florence 0.35 10.44 -2.3
N Myrtle Beach 0.00 9.95 -2.5
Charleston 0.05 8.10 -4.7
Savannah, GA 0.10 10.88 -1.6
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
SOIL:
4-inch depth soil temperature: Columbia 66 degrees, Charleston 70 degrees.
RIVERS AND SURF:
South Carolina river stages were near normal. Ocean water temperatures at Springmaid Pier Myrtle Beach were reported at 66 degrees.
