Snow, winter weather back in SC forecast this week

If 2018 hasn’t been cold or snowy enough for your liking in South Carolina, this week’s forecast could be heart warming for winter weather lovers.

But that’s the only thing that will be warm for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service office in Columbia.

There is a chance of a mix of rain and snow Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Monday.

Temperatures are expected to drop the next few days, making it possible the predicted precipitation that hits the Midlands in the middle of the week could be snow. However, as of Monday, the National Weather Service was predicting only a “minimal impact event,” saying a dusting of snow was possible over the Midlands.

A half-inch of snow could land just further north, across parts of Lancaster and Chesterfield counties.

“I wouldn’t expect any significant accumulation,” a spokesman said Sunday, adding there is a 20 percent chance of snow in the Midlands. “We expect light amounts of measurable precipitation.”

The Weather Service said Monday snow could start falling Wednesday morning into early Wednesday afternoon.

Temperatures Tuesday will start to drop below 35 degrees, according to the Weather Service. On Wednesday, the Weather Service is forecasting a slight chance of rain and snow before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain. Temperatures Wednesday are expected to reach a high of 42 degrees and a low of 22 degrees.

However, the weather could bring slick bridges and overpasses to the Midlands. Any snow should melt through the late morning and afternoon as temperatures rise, the Weather Service said.

Much of the same weather is expected for the rest of the Palmetto State, especially north of Columbia. The chance of snow is greater closer to the North Carolina border.

Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and other areas along the S.C. coast, which were slammed by snow in the Jan. 3 storm, also are expected to see colder temperatures. However, forecasters don’t expect it to be cold enough for snow or freezing precipitation in those areas.

That’s not the case in Greenville, Clemson and the rest of the Upstate, in addition to Florence and the Pee Dee area. In those areas, there is a 30 percent chance of snow and sleet Tuesday night and throughout Wednesday.

Georgia is expected to see wintry weather as well, including Atlanta, which could experience snow and freezing rain on Tuesday night.

After a potential deep freeze on Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures in South Carolina are predicted to rise again. Temperatures Friday could be in the high 50s and into the upper 60s by Sunday.

This story was originally published January 14, 2018 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Snow, winter weather back in SC forecast this week."