COLUMBIA, S.C. — A freeze warning is in effect overnight in parts of the northern Midlands of South Carolina, as cold air will push temperatures down to near freezing. For that reason, News19 has issued a Weather Impact Alert for the early morning hours of Friday.
Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service upgraded what had earlier been a freeze watch to a freeze warning for the following counties: Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, and Lee. Here's what that will mean for people in that area.
WHEN
3 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday
IMPACT
A cold front moved offshore of South Carolina, bringing chilly, dry air into the area. That led to some stronger winds in the central Midlands. The high temperature only got up into the 50s. The winds will die down overnight but will still be noticeable at around 10 mph, keeping that cold air flowing in from the north.
Temperatures are expected to be near 32 degrees in the freeze warning area. In the central Midlands, temperatures will be closer to the mid and upper 30s.
Frost and freezing temperatures may harm crops, damage sensitive plants, and pose a risk to outdoor plumbing if unprotected.
NEED
People need to protect sensitive plants and bring them inside. Exposed pipes should be covered as well.
FRIDAY FORECAST
Friday will stay cool, with highs in the mid-50s. Winds will be breezy but not as strong as today. Overnight, another round of cold air could lead to near-freezing temperatures again. By Saturday, things will start warming up, with highs reaching the low 60s. Dry weather will continue, and overnight lows will stay chilly in the mid-30s.
Looking ahead to Sunday and next week, the weather turns milder and stays dry for a while. As warmer air moves in, highs will climb into the upper 60s and low 70s by early next week. A new cold front may bring some unsettled weather by midweek, but rain looks unlikely.