South Carolina’s winter is shifting toward milder conditions sooner than Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow suggests. The National Weather Service forecasts above-normal temperatures across the Southeast, including Columbia, from February through April. Expect more mild afternoons and early spring-like warmth statewide, though chilly mornings and brief cold snaps remain possible, especially in Greenville, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach behind passing fronts.
Rainfall and Impacts
Precipitation takes center stage, with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicting near- to above-normal levels through spring. This boosts chances for frequent rain, heavy downpours, and road ponding—watch I-26, I-20, and coastal highways during storms. Spring starts March 20 per the Farmers’ Almanac, but a lunar eclipse on March 3 could coincide with unsettled patterns.
Stay alert for heavy rain or fronts; check NWS updates for your county via weather.gov or local apps like those from FOX Carolina. Safe travels in the Lowcountry!
