Hard freeze headed to SC soon. Here’s when the winter cold weather arrives and for how long
Some South Carolinians may need to spend part of their Thanksgiving holiday weekend protecting their pipes from freezing, the latest forecast shows.
According to the National Weather Service, a blast of frigid cold air will move into South Carolina late Thursday, drastically lowering temperatures over the following days — cold enough to trigger a hard freeze that may cause pipes to burst in parts of the state.
“Definitely the coldest air mass of the season … it’s abnormally cold for this time of year,” Tony Petrolito, a meteorologist with the NWS in West Columbia, said of the upcoming temperature drop.
Temperature changes in SC
The forecast as of Tuesday shows the Midlands can expect fairly average temperature highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s on Thanksgiving Day. After that, highs will stay in the 50s and lows in the 30s on Friday and Saturday.
By Sunday, lows will drop down into the 20s. Monday and Tuesday will likely be the coldest days of this freezing period, with highs only in the 40s and lows in the mid-to-low 20s.
“Tuesday looks to be the coldest day, with lows to the mid-20s by then,” Petrolito said.
For residents in the Upstate, plan for colder temperatures even sooner, with lows forecast to drop into the high 20s as early as Friday.
Even Myrtle Beach could see low temperatures fall into the low 20s by Tuesday evening.
Other than frigid temperatures though, South Carolina is predicted to have clear, sunny skies from Friday though Tuesday.
Hard Freeze
Petrolito said the cold weather could trigger a hard freeze in parts of the state.
A hard freeze happens when temperatures reach 28 degrees or lower for at least an hour or longer, the NWS states. Such cold will usually destroy seasonal vegetation.
“And when you get down into the low 20s, it’s time to be concerned about pipes,” Petrolito said.
How to protect pipes from freezing
Below are some tips to protect your home and pipes from hard freezes, according to nonprofit Consumer Reports.
- Keep garage doors closed to trap in heat.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warmer air circulate around plumbing.
- Let cold water drip from sink faucets.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night.
- If you plan to be away during cold weather, set the heat in your home no lower than 55 degrees.
