Computer models have been hinting at it for about a week now—possible snow in the CSRA! Yes, there is a chance Wednesday morning!
But the overall chances for precipitation aren’t that high—only around 40%. And any precipitation that does fall could start out as rain in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, and then change over or mix with snow starting around 6 or 7 a.m.
[Related: When is the Coldest Time of the Year?]
Meanwhile, temperatures will be marginally cold enough for snow to “stick.” Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid to upper 30s when precipitation might begin, and fall into the lower to mid 30s during the tail end of the precipitation, which should be gone by noon.
What’s Causing the Chance for Snow?
A cold front currently located across eastern Tennessee, down into northwestern Georgia and the Louisiana gulf coast will continue to move east, entering the Augusta area at approximately 4 a.m. Wednesday. Arctic air will once again move into the area behind the front. A limited amount of moisture will be associated with this front, and an upper-level disturbance will also approach our area from the northwest early Wednesday, as seen below.
Expected Impacts
The National Weather Service in Columbia, S.C. has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 2 a.m. through 5 p.m. Wednesday for the CSRA counties of Columbia, Edgefield, Lincoln, McCormick, and McDuffie for the possibility of up to 1″ of snow.
By no means does this setup have the potential to produce large amounts of snow in the CSRA. The Weather Prediction Center forecasts only a 5-10% chance of the Augusta area picking up more than one inch of snowfall. But locations farther to the northeast, such as eastern North Carolina, could pick up a few inches of snow.
[Related: I Need You to Stop Fantasizing About Snow]
Any snow that might accumulate shouldn’t last long. As sunshine returns Wednesday afternoon with temperatures a few degrees above freezing, any snow on the ground will likely melt before sunset. Nevertheless, if you see wet roads, or snow or ice on the roads, please drive with abundant caution.
A Look Ahead
If you’re a lover of cold weather, enjoy it while it lasts. Most of the rest of January is expected to bring above average temperatures for the CSRA.
That's Rich 
Leave a Reply