Greenville, South Carolina – It’s shaping up to be a chilly and eventful week across the Western Carolinas, with dangerously cold weather and a possible dose of wintry weather heading our way later this week. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe and prepared.
For the next few nights, temperatures are expected to drop sharply, and Friday could bring wintry weather to the entire region. Roads might get slick, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to travel Friday night.
Starting Tuesday, the mountains will experience strong winds through Thursday, with gusts reaching 20 to 35 miles per hour in North Carolina. While wind advisories aren’t likely, these gusts could still cause weaker tree limbs to fall and make driving a bit tricky in some areas.
Because of these chilly conditions, weather alerts have been issued for the mountains on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Temperatures will be in the teens, but when the wind kicks in, it could feel like single digits or even below zero in the higher elevations. If you’re heading outside, bundle up completely to avoid frostbite, and try to limit how long you’re out in the cold.
The Upstate won’t escape the chill either, with morning lows in the 20s on those same days. Although winds won’t be as intense, it could still feel as cold as the mid-teens. Make sure to layer up and keep exposed skin covered.
Looking ahead to Friday, the weather takes a wintry turn. There’s a chance of snow, a wintry mix, or just cold rain as a weather system moves through. Most of the action is expected to happen from Friday into early Saturday, but the exact details are still a bit uncertain. Weather experts are working hard to figure out the type of precipitation we’ll get and the timing, so stay tuned for updates.
Two weather models are offering slightly different predictions. One model, often referred to as the European model, suggests warmer conditions. This could mean mostly cold rain for the Upstate, with a brief mix of snow and sleet during the day Friday. The mountains might see a messier mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. This model also predicts the system will move through fairly quickly, starting late Friday and clearing out by early Saturday.
On the other hand, the American model paints a colder picture, with a higher chance of a wintry mix across the entire Western Carolinas. This scenario could bring snow, sleet, freezing rain, and cold rain all mixed together, creating a messy situation. This version of the forecast stretches the weather event from early Friday morning into Saturday afternoon.
It’s still a bit early to say exactly what will happen, so keep an eye out for updates as the week goes on. No matter which forecast pans out, this could be a tricky couple of days. Plan ahead, stay safe, and keep warm!
