The groundhog was wrong! Mother Nature says it's still winter! Snow accumulation is likely this afternoon and into the early evening hours for Columbia.
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM today for the Midlands and Pee Dee regions.
Other neighboring National Weather Service offices in Greenville-Spartanburg, Wilmington and Raleigh have also issued Winter Weather Advisories as well for portions of their coverage area.
A cold front has crossed the region early this morning. Temperatures will rise a few degrees to near 40 degrees. An upper level disturbance will increase precipitation across the area today. Precipitation will start late this morning in the form of rain, but mix and change to snow by early to mid-afternoon.
As colder air continues to build into the area, there could be a burst of moderate to heavy precipitation. Heavier precipitation would lean more toward snow and accumulations could begin to accumulate on grassy areas, despite warm ground temperatures. Surface temperatures will slowly fall from near 40 into the mid 30s later in the afternoon. At this time, there is no concern for accumulation on roads because of above freezing surface temperatures. However, bridges and overpasses are always colder and slippery conditions could develop.
The precipitation will move out of the area in the evening. Overnight low temperatures will fall into the lower to mid 20s. Black ice is pretty much a guarantee at this point from below freezing temperatures and wet roads.
Snow accumulation could differ location to location. On average I think snow amounts will range from 1 to 2 inches. Around an inch for Metro Columbia, lesser amounts towards Augusta and Orangeburg, higher amounts towards Winnsboro. It's not out of the the realm of possibility that isolated amounts of 3 inches could occur, especially across the Northern Midlands and into portions of the Pee Dee region.
... Columbia Examiner Weather Forecast...
Greater Columbia Area
TODAY... Rain developing by mid to late morning... then widespread snow showers. Light accumulations on grassy areas. Temperatures around 40, then falling through the 30s in the afternoon. Winds Northwest 10 to 20 MPH.
TONIGHT... Snow showers in the evening, then turning partly cloudy. Blustery. Total snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. LOW in the low to mid 20s. Winds Northwest 15 to 25 MPH.
SUNDAY... Watch for areas of black ice in the morning. Mostly sunny, cold and windy. HIGH in the mid 40s. Winds Northwest 20 to 30 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT... Clear and cold. LOW in the mid 20s.
PRESIDENT'S DAY... Sunny and much warmer. HIGH in the upper 50s to around 60.
MONDAY NIGHT... Increasing clouds. LOW in the lower 40s.
TUESDAY... Rain showers. HIGH around 60.
TUESDAY NIGHT... Rain showers in the evening, then partly cloudy. LOW around 40.
WEDNESDAY... Sunny. HIGH in the upper 50s.
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