National Weather Service updates SC forecast warning of snow and freezing temperatures
Snow and dangerous levels of cold across the Midlands are predicted in the coming days, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
In South Carolina, snow is forecast to move into the Midlands and the Central Savannah River Area between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday and continue until daybreak Wednesday. The weather service is warning that it could impact roads along and south of I-20, with the highest likelihood of accumulation of one inch or more occurring around the I-95 corridor in the lower half of the state.
A low pressure front of moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to meet a high pressure front of cold, dry air over South Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.
“Where there’s moisture we could see an inch of snow and in others areas we might see very little,” said Brad Carlberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
The front is still more than a day away and new data is still coming in, Carlberg said, but current predictions show up to half an inch of snow along I-20 with accumulation increasing in the southeastern part of the state, with up to an inch near Orangeburg and one to two inches predicted closer to Charleston.
The snow that does land is expected to stick around due to frigid temperatures arriving Monday night and continuing through Thursday morning.
A strong arctic high pressure system is delivering a blast of cold air to the region, with daytime temperatures that will peak in the 30s and nighttime temperatures as low as the teens.
A cold weather advisory is in effect for Monday night and Tuesday morning as wind chill is expected to drop overnight in some areas into the single digits.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster advised South Carolina residents over the weekend, “now is the time to check supplies and make preparations.”
The National Weather Service is warning that extreme cold temperatures are a threat to unsheltered people, unprotected plants, pets and livestock. Additionally, under-insulated pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. To prevent this, residents are encouraged to insulate uncovered outdoor pipes, cover spigots and even keep taps running slightly overnight to prevent freezing, Carlberg said.
A weather briefing from the National Weather Service is planned for Monday afternoon.