Will SC have snow or unusual warm weather this winter? See the Farmers Almanac & NWS forecast
Expect warmer and drier weather than usual in South Carolina this winter, but a little snow may still be possible, the latest forecasts show.
Cooler fall weather has finally appeared in South Carolina and while temperatures continue to drop, don’t expect that to lead into exceptionally frigid weather this winter. The Palmetto State is headed for a possibly warmer than average winter, according to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.
There could also be less rain throughout the season. However, there may be a couple of chances for some snowy weather in the mix late in the season, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts.
Winter officially begins on Dec. 21 and ends on March 20 this season. Here are the details on winter forecasts from NWS and Farmer’s Almanac.
NWS winter predictions for SC
The NWS predicts a 40% to 50% of above normal temperatures from December through February for the Upstate and the Midlands. Meanwhile, the Lowcountry can expect an even higher 50% to 60% of above normal temperatures for the winter season.
Rainfall
The Upstate will have a 33% to 40% chance of below normal rainfall from December through February, the NWS states. The Midlands and Lowcountry will have a 40% to 50% chance of having less rainfall than usual this winter.
Farmer’s Almanac predictions
Overall, Farmer’s Almanac predicts a warmish winter with above average temperatures for the Southeast this winter.
For the extended forecast, South Carolina can expect scattered showers, followed by cold, blustery winds for the last couple of weeks in December. A storm from the Gulf will likely bring more showers to the area in the first week of January. Expect a blast of heavy, windswept rains the week of Jan. 12, followed very cold temperatures and blustery winds the week of Jan. 24.
February kicks off with a burst of cold air across the South. During the week of Dec. 8, South Carolina may see some scattered wet snow. More scattered showers will come the following weeks. Then during the week of Feb. 20, there will be another possibility of a wintry mix or snow.
How Farmers’ Almanac predicts the weather
Founded in 1818, the Farmers’ Almanac uses a secret formula that includes components such as “sunspot activity, tidal action, the position of the planet,” to predict long-range weather forecasts. The forecasts are typically made two years in advance. Fans of the Farmers’ Almanac have, over the years, calculated that the predictions are accurate 80-85% of the time.
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
