Important Updates
➔ A Winter Storm Watch and Cold Weather Advisory have been issued.
➔ The risk for accumulating snow and freezing rain bringing impacts to the area persists.
➔ Time period of greatest impacts remains Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
➔ An extended period of bitterly cold temperatures will occur.
➔ There is a low-end risk for some freezing rain Wednesday night into Thursday. Minor accumulations are possible.
Precipitation Type Confidence
➔ Confidence is highest that precipitation will quickly change to all snow Tuesday evening across interior areas, possibly starting out as a wintery mix late Tuesday afternoon.
➔ It is still unclear whether freezing rain, sleet or snow will prevail across the coastal counties, especially Beaufort Co south.
➔ Even with this uncertainty, confidence remains that accumulations of snow and/or ice will occur.
➔ 1-3” of snow will be possible everywhere with as much as 0.05-0.25” of ice at the coast (highest along the Georgia coast).
◆ Snow amounts over the coastal counties may be lower if freezing rain prevails.
◆ 0.05-0.25” of ice possible along the Georgia coast.
Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI)
➔ No longer using probabilities as we are within the watch phase of the event.
➔ Minor to moderate impacts from snow and ice expected, greatest in the Metro Corridors from Savannah to Charleston.
➔ Impacts to travel likely. Some closures possible due to impacts on infrastructure (i.e. power outages).
◆ Minor impacts = accumulations of snow/ice are enough to produce travel issues.
◆ Moderate impacts = accumulations of snow/ice are enough to pose a risk to life and property.
Key Messages
➔ Cold Temperatures: High confidence remains that bitterly cold temperatures will impact southeast Georgia next week.
◆ Low temperatures may reach near record levels Wednesday night.
◆ Dangerous wind chills are possible, especially Wednesday night.
➔ Winter Precipitation Potential: An area of low pressure will pass to the south and offshore by the middle of this week and could bring winter precipitation to the area.
◆ The track of the surface low will be key to precipitation types and amounts.
◆ The probabilities for accumulating snow and freezing rain impacting the area persists
● Snow Amounts: 1 to 3 inches of snow possible (most areas)
● Ice Amounts: 0.05-0.25” ice (mainly southern coastal counties).
● Still unclear whether freezing rain, sleet or snow will prevail in the coastal counties. The risk for all snow is highest away from the coast.
◆ The window of greatest impacts looks to be Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
◆ There is a low end risk that freezing rain will occur late Wednesday night and Thursday.
➔ Travel: Some travel issues could continue into Wednesday night and Thursday as wet roads could refreeze.