Cold Weather Advisory, Winter Storm Watch issued for parts of the Lowcountry

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – The National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory and a Winter Storm Watch for several Lowcountry counties as winter weather approaches below freezing temperatures.

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Be prepared for very cold temperatures

The cold weather advisory is in effect until 6 on Wednesday and includes Charleston, Dorchester and Colleton Counties along with parts of Berkeley, Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Allendale Counties.

Wind chills are expected to drop to 15 to 20 degrees overnight Monday and to 10 to 15 degrees above zero both Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening.

Very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.

Forecasts call for an unusually long period of bitterly cold weather. Daytime temperatures will only warm into the 30s on both Tuesday and Wednesday with overnight lows dropping into the teens to lower 20s.

Be sure to take protective measures to prepare both your home and business, as well as yourself, for this period of very cold weather.

Snow accumulations are expected Tuesday, Wednesday

The Winter Storm Watch will be in effect Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning for Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton, Beaufort, Hampton, Inland Jasper and Allendale Counties and will be in effect Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

Periods of heavy snow with accumulations between one and three inches are possible. The storm can make for treacherous road conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses.

Very cold temperatures Wednesday night may result in refreezing and black ice formation.

The Live 5 Weather team declared Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as First Alert Weather Days due to the chances that parts of the Lowcountry could see wintry weather.

Live 5 First Alert meteorologist Chris Holtzman said it now looks like snow will be the primary type of precipitation, although some forecasts call for more of a mix, which would reduce the amount of accumulation.

The most extreme predicted between 1 and 6 inches for the Lowcountry, while another predicted less than an inch total.

Live 5 First Alert meteorologist Bill Walsh said wintry weather will affect the area Tuesday and Wednesday with a possible second shot coming Thursday when another wave passes to the east.

Before the wintry precipitation, an arctic blast will move in on Monday and last through next week. Sunday’s high of 65 degrees will give way to a temperature of just 41 degrees on Monday, with the temperature dropping to 25 degrees on Monday night.

RELATED: THE LIST: Warming shelters open ahead of the winter storm

The storm system that will deliver the wintry precipitation is set to arrive Tuesday afternoon and continue to affect the area through Wednesday morning. Walsh says it will be a fast-moving system.

Any impact on travel could be felt from Tuesday afternoon, he says. Any precipitation that melts during the day freezes overnight when temperatures drop below freezing.

Lowcountry school districts have not yet announced plans on whether to hold classes or switch to eLearning days due to the wintry weather.

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