Not much snow expected in Columbia, but what follows could be a problem

Rain was steady and sometimes heavy Sunday morning in the Midlands, but it — not snow — has been the dominant form of precipitation in the Columbia area of South Carolina .

Ever since last week’s forecast from the National Weather Service predicted a 40-50% chance of snow in Columbia Sunday, the likelihood of the white stuff has dwindled every day.

It reached the point Sunday morning where NWS Meteorologist Pierce Larkin told The State that the chances of snow in Columbia were “pretty slim.”

The western portion of the Midlands, in Edgefield and McCormick counties, could expect to see some snow, with some minor accumulation, according to Larkin. Snowflakes have been spotted in Aiken County as well.

But for most of Richland and Lexington counties, there’s a small chance of seeing some flurries in the sky, and no chance of them accumulating on the ground, Larkin said.

“I’m really expecting it to stay rain until the tail end of the afternoon. And even then, it will not be much,” Larkin said.

The major factor behind reduced chances of snow in the Columbia area is the temperature. While it’s far from beach weather, or even the warm and sunny conditions from Saturday afternoon, temperatures in the low 40s are keeping it from snowing, according to Larkin.

As thermometers drop into the mid 30s in the late afternoon, there’s still a slight possibility of snowflakes, Larkin said. But the weather causing the precipitation is expected to move on from the Midlands by 3 p.m., and take any more chances of snow with it.

Although the snow will be no more, the temperature will continue to fall below freezing into the night. This could cause another problem, especially early Monday morning, as black ice is a threat, according to Larkin.

Drivers should use extreme caution when on Midlands roads because of the possibility of black ice, which is difficult to see and makes conditions very slippery, especially bridges and overpasses.

What is black ice?

With temperatures dropping below freezing, ice can form on roads. Black ice forms when snow or light rain falls on frozen concrete, freezing quickly to form a layer of ice that is almost invisible against the backdrop of blacktop roads.

Because black ice is so difficult to spot, here are five tips from the National Safety Council, according to accuweather.com, on what to do should you hit a patch of it.

• Keep at least a five-second following distance from the vehicle in front of you, because it takes twice as long to stop on black ice
• Never hit the brakes on ice to avoid skidding, but instead hold your steering wheel steady
• Be extra vigilant in the early morning, when air temperature rises faster than pavement temperature
• Take caution when driving on bridges and overpasses as well as through tunnels
• Don’t overcorrect your steering if you feel your card sliding

“The biggest danger (with black ice) is that you are at the mercy of your vehicle and the ice until your car passes over it,” AARP Driver Safety previously said.

Temperatures in Columbia are expected to hit the freezing mark around midnight Monday and aren’t expected to rise above 32 degrees until about 9 a.m., the forecast shows. That time span is when the threat of black ice is at its highest on South Carolina roads, which aren’t paved or treated like ones in the North that are constantly dealing with the issue.

On Friday, Master Trooper William Bennett, of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, said that crews were out treating roads in preparation for potential winter weather.

“Stay home and avoid unnecessary travel, if possible,” the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said. “If you must drive, reduce your speed, avoid sudden braking, and look out for ice and slick roadways brought on by changing weather conditions.”

Larkin echoed that sentiment, saying “take it slow.”

Any black ice should be gone by late Monday morning as the sun rises over all of the Midlands area, Larkin said.

Freezing weather threats

Hypothermia or frostbite are possible with prolonged exposure to the cold weather effects, the National Weather Service said. Anyone without adequate shelter or clothing is at highest risk of injuries that are potentially fatal.

Additionally, a hard freeze poses a threat to vegetation.

The freezing conditions also present a threat to unprotected outdoor plumbing, according to meteorologists.

“Cold weather calls for scarves and gloves, and your pipes need protection, too,” the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said.

To prevent water pipes that are not properly insulated from freezing then bursting, wrap or drain them, or allow them to drip slowly overnight, the National Weather Service said.

Any pets also should be brought indoors, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

Weather forecast

Once the temperature rises above freezing Monday morning, it’s expected to continue rising, the forecast shows. A high near 50 degrees is possible, with conditions expected to be sunny and clear in Columbia on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The mercury on thermometers will again plunge below freezing overnight Monday, as lows in the 20s are forecast. That pattern is expected to repeat through Friday, as daytime conditions are predicted to be mostly sunny, clear and around the 50s, but as the sun sets they will fall beneath the freezing point.

More precipitation isn’t expected until next weekend, when there’s a 30% chance of rain, the forecast shows. Although he warned about continuing chilly weather, no snow is expected in the forecast for the upcoming week, according to Larkin.

“We’re not looking at anything at this time, but it’s going to be cold,” Larkin said.

This story was originally published January 18, 2026 at 1:24 PM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription