Is it hot enough for you?
While the Lowcountry is basking in temperatures fit for spring ... ... the Midwest is slip-sliding its way through a nasty ice storm
It's beginning to look a lot like Easter.
The Post and Courier
The weather outside was anything but frightful Tuesday when College of Charleston students Mike Andrews (left) and Adam Kopley played a friendly game of football among the Christmas trees at Marion Square.
Since late last week, Charleston has traded the 12 Days of Christmas for six days of spring break, and it seems to have lifted most people's holiday spirits.
On Tuesday temperatures flirted with a record high, and folks were walking through a winter wonderland of golf, picnics, barefoot football in the park and baking on the beach.
Santa Claus is coming to town? Well, tell him to bring sunscreen.
Genni Bath and Richard Plunkett spent their day off at a picnic table nestled all snug amongst Folly Beach Christmas lights. No snowmen or sleigh rides, just sushi and sunshine.
"I don't think I've ever worn shorts in December," Bath said.
By some people's standards, she was over-dressed. Just when you thought it was safe to break out your winter wardrobe.
Semester exams over, the College of Charleston crowd hit Marion Square, basking in the warm winter glare. While a few worked on their tans, others worked up a sweat passing a pigskin.
The Post and Courier
Chris Laramee takes it easy at Folly Beach as the mercury climbed to 79 degrees on Tuesday.
"It's weird," Adam Kopley said. "It's like a record high."
Actually, that's expected today.
Actually, that's expected today.
Tuesday it was only 79, a few degrees shy of the record. But today the forecast calls for 80, which would best the old record set in 1971.
But it is enough, more than enough, to lure folks out to the beach, their boat or the golf course. Scott Tarnowicz tried to squeeze in a round before heading back to Connecticut, where it's 25 and icy.
"I don't want to leave," he said.
Well, duh.
Chris Laramee remembers those chilly November days, shivering in his wet suit, while he tried to surf. On Tuesday he lay by the surf, his chest roasting in a blazing sun.
How warm was it?
-- Tuesday's high was 79; the record for Dec. 11 is 83, set in 1972.
-- Today forecasters are predicting a high of 80. The record for this date is 79, set in 1971.
-- The Thursday forecast calls for a high of 79. The record for this date is 80, set in 1956.
-- On Friday the forecast says the high will be 73. The record high is 78, set in 2001.
-- By the weekend, temps will be down to the more-seasonable 60s, with lows in the 40s or 50s.
It's a lot better here than home, which is New York, he said.
"I think there's ice there, and it's snowing right now."
All this does is add a little gloating to season's greetings. Spread a little holiday cheer. Call your pals in the Midwest, quote Jimmy Buffett: The Weather is Here, Wish You were Beautiful.
But all good things must come to an end. Steven Taylor, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service Charleston, said we are the recipients of an early Christmas present from a high pressure system that, for the moment, has settled in for a long winter's nap.
Soon, however, it will move on, leaving us with highs in the 60s for the weekend, and temperatures that struggle to get out of the 50s by next week. Next thing you know, some crazy person will start wishing for snow.
"In February, when everyone's freezing, we'll remember this week," Taylor said.
And we'll remember it fondly.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
SuzieQJones (anonymous) says...
Yes-it's hot enough for me...it is discouraging to have to turn on the air-conditioner while baking Christmas cookies!
December 12, 2007 at 3:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
robeweise (anonymous) says...
Boooo! Whatever happened to winter weather? I hope we don't get jipped out of our two weeks of winter this year before going back to summer.
December 12, 2007 at 4:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whome (anonymous) says...
meanwhile, 1M+ people are without electricity because of cold weather...
December 12, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kma71 (anonymous) says...
Dam global warming! LOL!
December 12, 2007 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yougogirl78 (anonymous) says...
Wasn't it really warm last Christmas too? We even had a tornado warning on Christmas Day!
December 12, 2007 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
I'm LOVING it! Warm weather is one of the reasons why I live in the south.
Genni Bath has never worn shorts in December? Was she not here last year or the year before when we also had mild winters?
We may be setting records for warm weather, but warm Decembers in the low country aren't really news, they are the norm. You can "usually" bet on one cold week in January, but besides that, we have it good.
December 12, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
I have been trying to tell everyone down here since I moved here 2+ years ago:
CHARLESTON DOESN'T HAVE WINTERS!!!!!
The *most* Charleston gets is fall weather for a couple months, then it starts getting warmer in February and you're done.
You want winter? Move up North! You'll enjoy being in the freezer for 6+ months when it drops below freezing in September and doesn't warm up until mid-May!
December 12, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Brant (anonymous) says...
Be glad you've got it. We've had Spring-like weather here in the WNC mountains and I, for one, am loving every minute of it!!! Too sad that it'll be gone by the weekend. It feels strange to walk outside in a t-shirt and shorts two weeks before Christmas, but it's something I could get used to REALLY quickly!!
December 12, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscbmc (anonymous) says...
I am a Charleston Native living in Minneapolis, MN and your weather sounds wonderful to me. It is currently -4 outside according to weather.com up here. Enjoy the 70s...heck, enjoy the 50s when the come next week. That will be about 40 degrees warmer that it will be here. There aint nothin between here and the north pole but a barbed wire fence.
You know it is cold when the local weather guessers on TV here talk about the highs for the day in these terms: "today we will warm up to 22 degrees". Global warming my foot!
Up here in the frozen tundra we already have about 15 inches of that white stuff on the ground and it isn't going anywhere until April. Yes we will have a white Christmas as well as a white valentines day and a white easter.
If we get lucky, we may see one or two more days above feezing between now and mid April. As soon as our son graduates from High School in 5 years, we are heading home. Merry Christmas and enjoy your beautiful weather.
December 12, 2007 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jca (anonymous) says...
um not to sound dumb but how is this news. its always warm in charleston for christmas. until it snows in charleston for christmas i see no reason to make it news
1989 was the last white christmas this town has had
December 12, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
The four seasons of Charleston are Spring, Summer, Still Summer and Almost Spring.
December 12, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nty05 (anonymous) says...
Captivated- I like your explanation! I'll have to remember that one :)
December 12, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
89 was a total fluke...
it has iced since then...but no true white christmas here
December 12, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bribetaker (anonymous) says...
The snow in 89 was Mother Nature's way of saying she was sorry for Hugo kicking our ass!! LOL
December 12, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kma71 (anonymous) says...
I also remember when it snowed 2 days in a row back in the late 90's or early 00's. It wasn't Christmas, but it was in the winter.
December 12, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hey_U_Guys (anonymous) says...
I remember back in 1999. It snowed for like a day. Light flurries and it didn't stick. We got 2 days off of school for that!!!
December 12, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nonsense (anonymous) says...
I have lived in Charleston all my life (more than five decades) and remember playing outside in shorts on Christmas when I was a child - it was hit or miss whether we had any "Christmas-like" weather. I love it - but we really do need some rain!!!!!
December 12, 2007 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trethoma (anonymous) says...
I am so jealous! I'm a Charleston native living near Seattle. Now, the crazy weather we had a few days ago...that was newsworthy. I was in Charleston for Hugo, and I've never seen a place flood like Bremerton did after the storm.
Four more years and I'm coming back to Charleston. I count down the days! Red fishing in December?!? Heck yeah!
December 12, 2007 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kingfish (anonymous) says...
the only white christmas i want to see is on dvd with
bbbbing crosby.
it must be beutiful in vermont this time of year...all that snow!
December 12, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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