COLUMBIA, S.C. — Temperatures will be below average the next few days but we are watching for the arrival of Arctic air to bring downright cold weather as we go into the Christmas holiday.
Tuesday looks to be on the cold side with highs likely reaching only the lower 40s as an area of low pressure brings rain to the area. It is possible for sleet to mix in at times but with above-freezing temperatures we won't be expecting any issues.
From there, all attention turns to Thursday where a cold front will bring us the next good chance of rain. While we only see rain it is more about what we see behind this front that will be the big story.
A very potent upper level trough will be building in with this system which will set the stage for Arctic air to dive to the south. Parts of the central and eastern US will see temperatures well below normal with a good portion of the country seeing wintry weather.
While we aren't expecting any wintry weather here in the Midlands, we are expecting some frigid conditions. Winds will be prettty gusty behind the cold front on Friday thanks to the tight pressure gradient. This will allow the wind chill along with temperatures to plummet. Temperatures Friday afternoon will likely be in the 30s.
Friday night, lows are expected to go down to the middle to upper teens but, with the wind present, the wind chill will likely get down into the single digits for most of the Midlands.
Temperatures in the morning will likely be a few degrees to warm on Saturday to break any records but, our daytime high is looking to possibly set the record for coldest Christmas Eve Day on record with highs only in the lower to middle 30s.
Christmas day looks to be a few degrees warmer which should keep us from breaking records but, could also be the coldest Christmas Day since 1998 here in the Midlands.
