Beaufort County braces for Saturday snow. Here’s the latest forecast
Editor’s note: An updated version of this story with a Saturday morning report from the National Weather Service can be found here.
A winter storm warning has been issued for the entire South Carolina Lowcountry as a rare winter weather event is expected to bring accumulating snow, dangerous travel conditions and extreme cold this weekend into early next week.
National Weather Service forecasters say snow will be the primary form of precipitation, with totals across the warned area expected to range between 2 and 4 inches.
The Beaufort County area is anticipated to only see 1 inch of snow, but residents should be prepared for up to 3 inches.
Forecasters say the earliest time that snow may fall is between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., but is most likely to fall between 1 and 4 p.m. Snowfall is expected to end between 3 and 7 a.m. on Sunday for the Lowcountry.
On Hilton Head, skies will remain mostly cloudy with a high near 42 degrees on Saturday, with a 60% chance of precipitation. during the day. Snow accumulation during the day is expected to be less than half an inch.
Saturday night, snow is likely, with 70% chance of precipitation – mainly between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. – with total overnight accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible.
In northern Beaufort County, rain is expected before 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by rain and snow between 2 and 4 p.m., and then a chance of snow after 4 p.m. Less than half an inch is possible during the day, with the high temperature near 40 degrees.
Saturday night will bring a higher likelihood of snow between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., with a 60% chance of precipitation and 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Overnight lows are expected to fall to around 19 degrees.
The storm is expected to make travel hazardous – if not impossible – particularly on bridges and overpasses, where freezing conditions will develop quickly.
NWS says some melting of the snow is expected during the daytime hours Sunday and Monday due to full sunshine and temperatures rising above freezing. However, forecasters warn that cold nighttime temperatures will cause melted water to refreeze on untreated roads and sidewalks, creating the potential for black ice Sunday night and Monday night.
For the latest forecast updates, check the NWS webpage.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 3:32 PM.
