Will Hilton Head have Christmas snow this year? It’s happened before. Here’s the history & forecast
It’s been 36 years since Hilton Head Island last experienced a true white Christmas and with the holiday right around the corner, it looks like 2025 will not end that streak.
According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, Beaufort County is expected to remain snow-free on Christmas Day this year, continuing a decades-long pattern that longtime Lowcountry residents have come to expect.
Here’s a look at previous snowfall for the region and what folks can expect to see this year:
A white Christmas to remember
Hilton Head’s most memorable Christmas snowfall occurred in 1989, when nearly 7 inches of snow fell across the island. The rare storm transformed roads into snowy paths, where some residents even skied.
It marked the first white Christmas in more than 15 years at the time, and remains the most recent and significant winter weather event ever recorded in coastal South Carolina.
Snow has fallen, just not on Christmas
While Christmas Day snow has been elusive, Hilton Head and the surrounding areas have still seen several notable winter storms over the years:
- February 1973: A powerful winter storm dumped 6.4 inches of snow on Hilton Head Island, setting all-time snowfall records that stood until 1989.
- February 2010: A winter storm brought about 3 inches of snow to the Hilton Head area just ahead of Valentine’s Day.
- January 2011: The region was blanketed in ice during this winter storm.
- January 2014: Southeast South Carolina and coastal Georgia experienced another impactful ice storm.
- January 2018: A historic winter storm dusted beaches and palmetto trees with snow, dropping 4.5 inches across Hilton Head Island.
- January 2025: Most recently, a winter storm brought about 4 inches of snow to the area.
What to expect this Christmas
While Beaufort County will mark its 36th consecutive year without a white Christmas, the weather will at least be cooperative for holiday plans and travelers.
According to the NWS, a cold front will move through the region on Dec. 19 with rainfall ending by late morning.
After that, temperatures are expected to warm over the weekend while another dry cold front will sweep through on Monday, Dec. 22.
Warming conditions will return Tuesday and continue through the week, with quiet, rain-free conditions expected.
Christmas Day is expected to be pleasant, with the morning bringing mild temperatures in the low 50s and warming to the low 60s midday.
Are there any chances of snow this winter?
While Hilton Head won’t wake up to snow-covered beaches this Christmas morning, history suggests that patience — and perhaps a January calendar — offers the better chance of seeing the island in winter white.
Although it looks like the chances for snow this year in the Palmetto State are slim.
The NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s seasonal outlook from December to February suggests South Carolinians will likely have a warmer-than-average winter, with most areas seeing a drier season.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, on the other hand, predicts a “colder-than-normal” and drier winter for the Southeast region. It does note a snowy surprise is possible, but that it’s more likely to come mid-December in northern areas of the state.
With La Niña also in effect, it brings warmer temperatures to the south and cold, snowy conditions in the north. The NOAA said that predictions favor La Niña to continue through February, meaning that snow isn’t likely on the table for Palmetto State residents this year.
