If you don't like the weather in South Carolina, it's been said that you can just wait five minutes and it'll change - just be careful what you wish for. Cliches aside, South Carolina is known for its tropic-like summers and mild winters. It's one of the reasons we (and millions of tourists each year) love it so very much - even when certain weather patterns bring unexpected events (hurricanes, nor'easterns, scorching hot summer days, and more).
But what about a scorching hot WINTER day? When is the last time you felt like complaining about the heat in the dead of winter?
According to the South Carolina State Climatology Office at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 57 years ago, the Palmetto State had a particularly odd February.
In fact, in the history of keeping temperature records, the warmest winter day on record in South Carolina was set on the last day of February 57 years ago.
On February 28, 1962, the entire state was experiencing a heat wave. But the record high was set in Jasper County in the City of Ridgeland (also known as South Carolina's Front Porch).
And while a temperature of (only) 89 during the month of August seems almost like a gift from Mother Nature, in the dead of winter it was like winning the weather lottery.
Instead of bundling up and braving an arctic blast in our warmest winter attire, folks were instead enjoying a day in the water.
You can bet grills were fired up and decks, patios, and porches were bustling with activity.
The unseasonably high temperature in the winter of 1962 occurred on a Wednesday, but all of February was like experiencing summer — without the high humidity.
Record keeping for high and low temperatures in South Carolina began in 1887. The screen capture below from the SCDNR website describes the weather on February 28th as having summer-like temperatures.
Wondering about the coldest winter day on record in South Carolina? That would be January 21, 1985. At Caesars Head State Park the temperature fell to minus 19 degrees, however, the wind chill would have made it feel even colder.
How do you feel about unseasonably warm winter weather trends in South Carolina? Do you love a warm winter? Or would you prefer to have some cold weather to offset the hot and humid summer months?'
South Carolina's weather history has included some tragic events like the record-breaking Thousand Year Flood in 2015. See 18 photos of the Thousand Year Flood here.
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