Snow, sleet, freezing rain across the upstate of South Carolina today and thankfully we have escaped the real wintry mess.  While there may still be a few slick spots overnight, it looks like we dodged a bullet.  Over an inch of rain again across the area on Saturday and now cold air is wrapping around the back side of the storm and temperatures will be well below freezing by morning.  Sunshine returns for Sunday, but it will be cold with highs only expected to reach into the mid 40′s.

An unsettled week is ahead as well.  We may see more rain on Tuesday and again into next weekend.  Temperatures will be below normal all week and believe it or not, there may be another chance for some wintry weather next Friday.  We’ll continue to monitor the models and keep you updated throughout the week.  Have a great Sunday !!

Brad

Its has been a while, but temperatures are going to finally return to normal, but it’s going to take a few more days.  The Siberian Express has finally come to a halt and our weather will return to a more normal winter pattern heading into late week.  It doesn’t mean that we won’t see any more cold snaps, but at least we won’t be dealing with temps in the teens for a while.  With the exception of January 1st, the Charleston International Airport has recorded a low temperature below freezing every day this year.  The way it looks right now, this Friday morning will be the first morning that we do not fall below 32 degrees.  That will make it almost 2 weeks straight with morning lows below freezing.  While we have had cold snaps of this magnitude, never for this long.  Funny thing is that we have only tied the record low one morning through this period.  This Arctic intrusion has been widespread and its icy grip has impacted Florida and the orange crop as well.  We will not know for several days how substantial the damage is, but several farmers have already determined that the freezing temps have ruined several acres of citrus fruit.

Beginning Thursday, highs should reach into the 60′s along with lots of sunshine.  Our next rain chance comes on Saturday as an area of low pressure moves up from the Gulf States.  With a deep trough developing in the west, Arctic air will be forced to drain across the Rockies and California.  This will help a ridge develop over the eastern states and allow for temperatures to return to normal next week.  Normal highs for this time of the year are around 60 while overnight lows are near 40.  Have a great Monday and smile !!

Brad

Okay…so many people want snow.  Here’s what we need.  Very cold air all the way down to the surface.  Moisture to fall through that cold air and freeze into snowflakes.  The best snow for us usually comes after a cold airmass moves over the Lowcountry and a coastal storm forms to bring moisture to work with. 

If a storm forms, say off the coast of Jacksonville or Savannah AFTER the cold airmass is in place, that moisture would wrap around the cold and we get the white stuff.  In 1989 we had 8 inches of snow and a white Christmas.  Very very rare here in South Carolina, but not unheard of .

This week we have a cold air mass in place.  Another shot of cold air comes in on Thursday night with a small disturbance which may bring some moisture our way late at night.  We might have a possible coastal development, but again the timing is critical.  Bottom line, we stand a slight chance to see some winter precipitation Thursday night and Friday morning, but no accumulation.  Remember, this forecast will change every model run; so check back with our shows as we update the weather forecast.  Just a few degrees and miles, makes for a huge difference in the type of weather we get.

I hope you all had a great New Year’s celebration and are working back into the normal routines.  I know it’s hard with kids after sleeping in for a couple of weeks!  Have a great week and stay tuned to LIVE 5 NEWS for all the latest weather information as we move into a cold start to January!

Bill

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!