Rare March snow falls across South Carolina

It was the best kind of snowfall in parts of the Midlands Sunday – big, beautiful snowflakes and little threat to roads.

The rare March snowfall, just over a week before the start of spring, was only the 17th time it has snowed in the Columbia area in March since 1888, the National Weather Service tweeted Sunday morning.

While many parts of Richland and Lexington counties got at least enough of a dusting to coat cars and leaves – and to make a few snowballs – most of the accumulation was in northern parts of the Midlands and near the North Carolina border.

Trace amounts of snowfall were recorded at Columbia Metropolitan Airport – less than 0.1 inch, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Whitney Smith. In Lexington, snowfall was recorded between trace amounts and 0.25 of an inch.

Sunday’s snow prompted some cancellations, most notably of the USC-Michigan State baseball series finale at Founders Park.

“There was not much impact on the area,” Smith said of the snow, citing no reports of icy roads or downed trees.

The cooler temperatures that arrived over the weekend are expected to stay on, at least through Thursday. Monday in Columbia, the forecast calls for a chance of rain and a high of 40.

“Temperatures are expected to be below normal through the work week,” said Smith, adding that 67 degrees is the typical temperature in Columbia this time of year.

In spite of the chill, no more winter precipitation is expected.

Columbia last saw snow in March in 2012, which meteorologist Chris Rohrbach described as “trace amounts.”

This story was originally published March 12, 2017 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Rare March snow falls across South Carolina."