Early next week, Tallahatchians will face the coldest temperatures so far this winter, possibly dipping into the single digits Monday and Tuesday nights and, perhaps, accompanied by accumulating snowfall.
Word of just how cold it might get, and whether the frosty weather will bring measurable snowfall, varies depending on the forecast source.
Two of three online weather sources checked by The Sun-Sentinel early Thursday afternoon were predicting the 38921 (Charleston) Zip code would see several inches of snow accumulation between Sunday night and early Tuesday. However, all three agree about the bitterly cold temperatures headed our way.
» The Memphis office of the National Weather Service (NWS), often considered the gold standard of weather prognosticators, called for no more than a 30% chance of snow from late Sunday into early Tuesday, with no specific mention of accumulating snow. NWS predicts a high around 44 Sunday, a low around 17 Sunday night, a high of 28 Monday, a low around 10 Monday night, a high of 25 Tuesday and a low around 11 Tuesday night, before daytime temperatures rebound to above freezing next Wednesday but nighttime temps remain below freezing for several more days.
» AccuWeather.com predicts a 70% chance of snow in Charleston on Monday, with accumulations of up to 3 inches through early Tuesday. The website forecasts a high around 35 Sunday, low of 19 Sunday night, high of 25 Monday, low of 11 Monday night, high of 20 Tuesday and low of 5 Tuesday night.
» The Weather Channel forecast for the 38921 Zip code mentions "a potential winter storm," with snow showers developing Sunday night (52% chance), continuing Monday (55%) and into Monday night (49%), with snow accumulations totaling up to 5 inches during the period. The Weather Channel predicts a high of 40 Sunday, low of 20 Sunday night, high of 24 Monday, low of 7 Monday night, high of 20 Tuesday and low of 5 Tuesday night.
If there is one thing Tallahatchians (and Southerners in general) know about winter weather, it is how unpredictable it can be. Look for the forecasts to shift in coming days.
Best to be prepared for extreme cold anyway.
