COLUMBIA, S.C. -- As the winter solstice approaches tomorrow, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, a strong cold front is set to impact South Carolina.
Today and Tonight
Today, a strong cold front will move through the state. This system will clear the skies and bring breezy conditions this afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to shift to the west as the initial surface front passes, followed by a secondary cold front this evening. Gusts may exceed 30 mph, leading to a lake wind advisory from 4 PM to 11 PM.
This cold front will drop dew points by 5-10 degrees this afternoon, and the northwesterly winds will usher in a wave of dry, cold air. There is also a chance of isolated showers this afternoon, particularly in the northern Midlands. Some areas might experience brief graupel showers due to strong surface-to-upper-level temperature contrasts.
The Weekend
Cold and dry conditions will dominate the weekend as high pressure builds across the region. Saturday will bring clear skies and high temperatures in the low 50s, while Sunday's highs will be even cooler, in the low to mid-40s.
Nighttime temperatures will plunge into the middle 20s on Saturday and could drop further on Sunday night. These frigid conditions may warrant a cold weather advisory for Sunday night into Monday morning, as wind chills could dip into the mid-teens in some areas.
Monday through Thursday
The start of the workweek will remain chilly, with Monday's highs slightly rising from Sunday. A gradual warming trend is expected through midweek as high pressure builds in. By Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures will climb into the low 60s, with overnight lows moderating from the 20s on Monday to the 40s by midweek.
Additionally, a storm system is expected to develop around Christmas Day, bringing a chance of widespread rain. Details are still uncertain, but increasing moisture levels suggest a potentially wet holiday period.
The Winter Solstice
The winter solstice, occurring tomorrow, marks the official start of astronomical winter. This event happens when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the Sun, resulting in the year's shortest day.
Our sunrise on Saturday will be around 7:26 AM and sunset will be at 5:19 PM.