COLUMBIA, S.C. — Through Wednesday, high and low temperatures are predicted to be well below average. The forecast calls for the coldest temperatures of the season so far on Wednesday morning. As the likelihood of rain increases through the end of the week and into the weekend, a trend of gradual warming starts on Thursday.
Tuesday started off with lots of clouds, but sunshine will return during the afternoon hours. Cold air will continue to spill into the state today. Skies will be clear tonight and winds will be calm, which will allow our temperatures to drop into the 20s.
We are expecting temperatures in the middle to lower 20s across the Midlands on Wednesday morning. This will likely be our coldest morning of the season so far.
With the cold temperatures expected, it is always good to remember the five Ps of cold weather safety:
1. Protect People
Wear a scarf, gloves, and hat if you are outside for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms of hypothermia can set in during the cold morning hours. Check in on the elderly to make sure their heat is working. Children and elderly people are more susceptible to cold weather impacts.
2. Protect Pets
Consider bringing outside dogs inside or giving them a warm place to seek shelter. Outdoor water bowls will freeze during the morning. Smaller dogs and dogs with thinner fur are more susceptible to cold weather.
3. Protect Plants
The leafy landscape shrubs are fine in this weather, but flowers may be damaged, so give them a frost cloth. The winter greens in your fall garden can only handle temperatures briefly into the 20s; you may need to protect them too.
4. Protect Pipes
This one is only for people who have pipes that are exposed to freezing temperatures. Keep your faucet on a drip and wrap pipes that are exposed to the elements. Opening up a sink cabinet door can help keep pipes warmer if the rest of the home is heated. A sink against an outside wall or above-ground water pipes outside could freeze or burst. If you have not had problems with freezing pipes, you likely will not have an issue with temperatures in the 20s. All outdoor faucets should be turned off; otherwise, there will be ice on the ground.
5. Practice Fire and Heating Safety
Check to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working, and never leave fire pits, fire places, or space heaters unattended. A space heater must be operated away from anything that can catch fire and must be plugged directly into a wall.
Temperatures will not warm much on Wednesday afternoon. We are expecting highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s. The clouds will move back into the Midlands on Thursday, and our temperatures will start to warm.
Rain will return to the area late Friday. The showers are forecast to stick around through the weekend.
