Snow, sleet headed for Greenville & SC Upstate on back-to-back days. Here’s the latest forecast

If you live in South Carolina it’s probably about time to go get that bread and milk.

You know how shelves empty when snow is in the forecast.

And it is.

Maybe a snow jacket from REI or a sled from your local Ace Hardware are in order as well.

FYI, Kidding Around Greenville says best sledding spots are Century Park in Greer, East North Street School, Herdklotz Park, and Legacy Park, all in Greenville.

We may be getting out in front of this snowscape possibility.

Right now, the National Weather Service forecast for Greenville says snow is likely Saturday before 4 p.m., then snow and sleet after that with a high near 36.

After 10 p.m. Saturday 80% chance snow and freezing rain, continuing on Sunday.

Mostly cloudy on Sunday night with a low around 16.

BRRR.

And not good for any precipitation on power lines.

The high on Monday is expected to be near 35.

Frank Strait, severe weather liaison with the S.C. State Climate Office, says tranquil through Wednesday night under high pressure drifting through the region.

“Temperatures will remain below average in this polar air mass,” he said.

A cold front arrives on Thursday with rain in the Upstate, spreading across the state on Friday.

“The arrival of the harsh cold will set us up for a widespread winter storm over the Southeast once a storm currently about 1,000 miles west of Northern California crosses the region Saturday into Sunday,” he said.

But here’s his caveat: “There is a lot more we don’t know now than what is known.”

• Known — risk of a winter storm over at least part of South Carolina this weekend. 
• Known — the northern part of the state has a higher risk for impactful snow and ice than the south.
• Unknown — how far into the state snow will fall.
• Unknown — how fast the storm will move through the state.

It’s going to stay cold so if it snows and sleets, melting will be slow.

Strait said most likely snow in the Upstate Saturday turns to sleet and eventually freezing rain Saturday night. A damaging ice buildup is possible, especially southeast of I-85.

The worst case would be heavy snow and sleet over the Upstate and vicinity, with double-digit snow accumulations, and a damaging ice storm over much of the rest of South Carolina.

“A further northward track of the storm would shift the heavy snow out of South Carolina, while a damaging ice storm would occur over mainly the northern part of the state, though considerable sleet could limit ice buildup along and north of I-85. The Lowcountry would primarily see rain,” he said. “A more southward track of the storm would bring heavy snow over more of South Carolina, with a damaging ice storm primarily affecting southern areas.

“So, what do you do now?” Strait asked. “It sure does sound scary, and I do not doubt that grocery stores are seeing a surge in sales of milk sandwich ingredients because of the social media buzz about this situation.”

South Carolina’s weather guide is available at SCEMD’s SC Winter Weather Guide.

And if it does snow, you could make snow ice cream:

• 6 cups fresh, clean snow
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• Mix milk and vanilla extract, gradually fold in snow to a creamy consistency

This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM.