Monday morning winter weather update from emergency management

Important Updates

➔ A Winter Storm Watch and Cold Weather Advisory remain in effect.

➔ The risk for accumulating snow and freezing rain bringing impacts to the area persists.

➔ Time period of greatest impacts remains late Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.

➔ An extended period of bitterly cold temperatures will occur.

➔ There is a low-end risk for some freezing rain along the immediate coast Thursday evening. Minor accumulations are possible.

Precipitation Type Confidence

➔ Inland: Rain in the afternoon will change to a rain/snow mix in the late afternoon, then snow in the evening and continue overnight.

➔ Along the GA Coast: Rain in the afternoon will change to a freezing rain or sleet mix in the evening, then snow after midnight.

➔ 1-2” of snow will be possible everywhere with as much as 0.05-0.25” of ice along the Georgia coast.

Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI)

➔ Minor to moderate impacts from snow and ice expected, greatest in the Metro Corridors from Savannah to Charleston.

➔ Impacts to travel likely. Some closures possible due to impacts on infrastructure (i.e. power outages).

◆ Minor impacts = accumulations of snow/ice are enough to produce travel issues.

◆ Moderate impacts = accumulations of snow/ice are enough to pose a risk to life and property.

Cold Temperatures:

◆ High confidence remains that bitterly cold temperatures will impact southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia this week.

◆ Near-record low temperatures are possible Wednesday night.

◆ Dangerous wind chills are possible, especially Wednesday night, with values as low as 8-15°F Winter Precipitation Potential:

◆ An area of low pressure will pass to the south and offshore by the middle of this week and will bring winter precipitation to the region.

◆ The track of the low-pressure system will be key to precipitation types and amounts.

◆ Accumulating snow and freezing rain remains likely in some areas

● Snow Amounts: 1 to 2 inches of snow possible (most areas)

● Ice Amounts: 0.05-0.25” ice (mainly Georgia coastal counties).

◆ Precipitation type for coastal counties (freezing rain, sleet, or snow) still remains uncertain, particularly for Beaufort, SC and south into coastal Georgia. The risk for all snow is highest away from the coast.

◆ Greatest impact window: Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.

◆ There is a low end risk that freezing rain will occur late Thursday evening.

Travel:

◆ Some travel issues could continue into Wednesday night and Thursday as wet roads could refreeze.