A rare late-season winter setup might form across areas of South Carolina around St. Patrick’s Day week, as colder air from Canada moves unusually far south just days before the first day of spring.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s 8-14 day prediction, much of the eastern United States will get above-normal precipitation from March 15 to March 21, while temperatures in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic will be below seasonal averages. The pattern arises as a lengthy cold boundary extends from Maine to the Great Lakes and south to Georgia and northern Florida, enabling colder air to enter the region.
This setup increases the likelihood of snow or freezing rain in Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville-border cities, and sections of the Upstate if moisture arrives when colder air is present. Further south, including Columbia and Rock Hill, precipitation may begin as rain but may mix with or briefly transform into frozen precipitation if temperatures drop.
Drivers on Interstates 85, 26, and 77 should closely monitor developments if storm systems start to form. Even little amounts of ice can suddenly cause slick bridges and dangerous driving conditions.
The timing is significant because daylight saving time begins this weekend, but winterlike weather may persist across areas of the Southeast even as the first day of spring arrives later that week.
Forecasters expect the pattern to grow clearer in the coming days, with more cautions possible if colder air and oncoming storm systems connect across the Carolinas.