Hilton Head area sees first snowfall in more than 7 years. See photos of the first flakes
For the first time since January 2018, Beaufort County is seeing snow.
Beginning around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, light blankets of white began accumulating across the county, from Hilton Head Island to the Beaufort waterfront. While some neighborhoods saw the first hints of snowfall, other areas had sleet and icy rain.
Meteorologists predicted 4 to 6 inches of snow Tuesday night into Wednesday as wind chills drop to 15 degrees, close to the record low for the Lowcountry. Wet roads are at risk of refreezing Wednesday and Thursday nights, leading to dangerous black ice on local roadways, according to the National Weather Service office in Charleston.
As of Tuesday night, Beaufort County was under a winter storm warning until noon Jan. 22 and a cold weather advisory until 10 a.m. Jan. 23. Officials are warning residents to avoid travel if possible, especially on the county’s many bridges, which can ice over far more quickly than other roads.
“There is a chance that we will wake up Wednesday morning with a winter wonderland here in Port Royal,” Mayor Kevin Phillips said in a video posted Tuesday. “Be safe, be smart, look out for your neighbors, and we’ll get through this winter weather storm together.”
Beaufort’s usually-bustling downtown slowed to a crawl Tuesday evening, like it does when a hurricane approaches. But in this case it was a winter storm, a rarity in the Lowcountry. Some businesses posted signs on their doors informing customers they were closed due to the cold temperatures, which hovered in the low 30s.
To submit your own photos or videos of snowfall in the Lowcountry, email newsroom@islandpacket.com.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM.
