Will SC see snow or more rainy weather in winter 2025? Here’s the Farmers Almanac & NWS forecast
Sorry snow lovers, South Carolina isn’t on the list for the white stuff over the next three months, the latest forecasts show.
The official first day of winter — also known as the winter solstice — was only Dec. 21, and yet it’s already clear that the Palmetto State can expect a warmer season than usual, according to the National Weather Service.
There will likely be less rain than usual this winter too. And you can forget about any kind of legitimate snowfall, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts.
Here’s what to know about winter 2025 forecasts for South Carolina from the NWS and Farmer’s Almanac.
SC winter predictions from NWS
The NWS predicts a 50%-60% chance of temperatures likely being above normal from January through March. Winter officially ends on March 20.
Rainfall chances are a little more varied for the state.
The NWS predicts a 33% to 40% chance of rainfall leaning below normal levels in the Upstate from January through March. For the rest of the state, rainfall chances will be even worse at 40%-50% leaning below normal levels.
Farmer’s Almanac predictions
Overall, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts a warmish winter with above-average temperatures for the Southeast.
For the extended forecast, South Carolina may see a storm from the Gulf bring showers to the area in the first week of January. Expect a blast of heavy, windswept rains the week of Jan. 12, followed by 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, a storm should track from the central Gulf to the Mid-Atlantic Coast.
The first couple of weeks of March will face a few showers followed by a period of clear skies and pleasant weather. The week of March 12-19, the Carolinas can expect more rain and possibly scattered thunderstorms.
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 planets,” 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.
What about La Niña?
The National Weather Service has been predicting the formation of La Niña for months, but so far the weather pattern has failed to materialize. As of its latest forecast, the NWS Climate Prediction Center is calling for a 59% chance of a weak La Niña to form at some point through January.
Often La Niña, the opposite of El Niño, has been known to trigger drought conditions in the Southeast. However, that appears far less likely this winter season.
“Weak La Niña conditions would be less likely to result in conventional winter impacts,” the Climate Prediction Center states.
