Snow, sleet, freezing rain across the upstate of South Carolina today and thankfully we have escaped the real wintry mess.  While there may still be a few slick spots overnight, it looks like we dodged a bullet.  Over an inch of rain again across the area on Saturday and now cold air is wrapping around the back side of the storm and temperatures will be well below freezing by morning.  Sunshine returns for Sunday, but it will be cold with highs only expected to reach into the mid 40’s.

An unsettled week is ahead as well.  We may see more rain on Tuesday and again into next weekend.  Temperatures will be below normal all week and believe it or not, there may be another chance for some wintry weather next Friday.  We’ll continue to monitor the models and keep you updated throughout the week.  Have a great Sunday !!

Brad

Its has been a while, but temperatures are going to finally return to normal, but it’s going to take a few more days.  The Siberian Express has finally come to a halt and our weather will return to a more normal winter pattern heading into late week.  It doesn’t mean that we won’t see any more cold snaps, but at least we won’t be dealing with temps in the teens for a while.  With the exception of January 1st, the Charleston International Airport has recorded a low temperature below freezing every day this year.  The way it looks right now, this Friday morning will be the first morning that we do not fall below 32 degrees.  That will make it almost 2 weeks straight with morning lows below freezing.  While we have had cold snaps of this magnitude, never for this long.  Funny thing is that we have only tied the record low one morning through this period.  This Arctic intrusion has been widespread and its icy grip has impacted Florida and the orange crop as well.  We will not know for several days how substantial the damage is, but several farmers have already determined that the freezing temps have ruined several acres of citrus fruit.

Beginning Thursday, highs should reach into the 60’s along with lots of sunshine.  Our next rain chance comes on Saturday as an area of low pressure moves up from the Gulf States.  With a deep trough developing in the west, Arctic air will be forced to drain across the Rockies and California.  This will help a ridge develop over the eastern states and allow for temperatures to return to normal next week.  Normal highs for this time of the year are around 60 while overnight lows are near 40.  Have a great Monday and smile !!

Brad

Okay…so many people want snow.  Here’s what we need.  Very cold air all the way down to the surface.  Moisture to fall through that cold air and freeze into snowflakes.  The best snow for us usually comes after a cold airmass moves over the Lowcountry and a coastal storm forms to bring moisture to work with. 

If a storm forms, say off the coast of Jacksonville or Savannah AFTER the cold airmass is in place, that moisture would wrap around the cold and we get the white stuff.  In 1989 we had 8 inches of snow and a white Christmas.  Very very rare here in South Carolina, but not unheard of .

This week we have a cold air mass in place.  Another shot of cold air comes in on Thursday night with a small disturbance which may bring some moisture our way late at night.  We might have a possible coastal development, but again the timing is critical.  Bottom line, we stand a slight chance to see some winter precipitation Thursday night and Friday morning, but no accumulation.  Remember, this forecast will change every model run; so check back with our shows as we update the weather forecast.  Just a few degrees and miles, makes for a huge difference in the type of weather we get.

I hope you all had a great New Year’s celebration and are working back into the normal routines.  I know it’s hard with kids after sleeping in for a couple of weeks!  Have a great week and stay tuned to LIVE 5 NEWS for all the latest weather information as we move into a cold start to January!

Bill

Looks like we’ll see some colder weather on the way for our New Year’s week!  Overnight lows will be in the 30’s and highs in the 50’s.  Some clouds increase on Wednesday and showers possible on Thursday and Friday. 

El Nino is in full swing with the upper pattern over the last few weeks with the long wave troughing and strong southern jet.  We’ve seen some amazing snowfall across the midwest and northeast already and it looks like this could be a snowy winter across parts of the country. 

No snow yet here!  Many want some of the white stuff and we’ll just have to wait to see if Mother Nature puts the moisture together with enough cold air to bring some winter weather to us here in the Lowcountry.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and Day!  I hope you can join us for tonight’s broadcasts in high definition!

Bill

Looks like a nice Christmas week ahead with a few showers possible by Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Look for dry weather Tuesday through Thursday with some showers by Christmas Eve. 

There will also be a chance for a few showers on Christmas Day with highs near 60.  The day after Christmas and Sunday looks good.  Lots of sun and drier. 

I hope everyone has a great and safe Christmas week.  For weather updates, join us on our broadcasts and here on the web at LIVE5NEWS.COM.  Also we’ll keep you updated on TWITTER and FACEBOOK. 

Bill

The Blizzard of 2009 is now in the books.  Since Friday, 1 to 2 feet of snow fell from North Carolina up the I-95 Corridor into Boston.  Washington, DC received 20 inches, Baltimore 21 inches, Philadelphia 21 inches and over a foot in Central Park.  If you are from the Northeast, snow totals from this storm rivaled the President’s Day storm of 1978 and the Blizzard of 1996.

Luckily, we “escaped” with heavy rain and some gusty winds, although, after this past rain event, this has now become the wettest December on record in downtown Charleston and so far the second wettest December at the Charleston International Airport.  Rainfall so far this month - 9.02 inches at the airport and 9.72 inches downtown.

Thankfully, we’ve got a few dry days ahead of us.  Temperatures will remain on the cool side and there is no rain in the forecast until Christmas Eve.  Highs will approach 60 degrees by Tuesday with overnight lows in the chilly 30’s.  Have a great week and say hi to Santa for me !!

Brad

Wow…looks like mother nature will bring a foot or more of snow to the upper mid west and Great Lakes!  This could be the largest blizzard they’ve had in years.  Once again it shows us that winter might start in a couple of weeks, but sometimes gives us a taste early on.

No snow here.  Lots of people are asking for some this year, but it really has to do with timing and luck.  We need a very cold airmass and a system to bring moisture along at the same time.  In 1989, we had a white Christmas here in Charleston which is almost unheard of.  The odds are always against it, but keep your fingers crossed if you’re a snow lover as we move into the winter.

I hope you can join us for tonight’s broadcast in high definintion and only on LIVE 5 NEWS.  Don’t forget TWITTER: LIVE5WEATHER and FACEBOOK: Bill Walsh, Chad Watson and Brad Miller.

After a fairly uneventful November, December started out with a bang.  Several tornado watches were in effect on Wednesday night up and down the southeast coast.  While only one tornado was confirmed in Florida, heavy rain fell across the Lowcountry and flooded downtown.  In fact almost 3 inches of rain fell within a 12 hour period.  Another weather system is quickly developing in the eastern Gulf this morning.  This system will move northeast across Florida and rain spread across the area beginning tonight.  Unfortunately, it will linger into Saturday providing us with a wet, cold start to the weekend.

This same weather system will provide parts of Texas and the Gulf states with some wintery weather.  In fact, Houston is expecting 2-4 inches of snow by tomorrow morning.  The upstate of South Carolina may see a few flakes, but not enough to accumulate.  Maybe next time.  By the way, if you are headed down to Tampa, Florida Saturday night for the ACC Championship, the weather looks dry, but cool for kickoff.  Partly cloudy skies are expected down there with temperatures near 50.  Say hi to Kevin Bilodeau if you see him.  He’ll be down there coverning the game for Live 5 Sports.

That’s about it for now.  Cross your fingers and hope for the rain to move out quicker.  Sunday doesn’t look too bad.  The sun will be out, but highs will only be in the upper 50’s.  Have a great weekend everyone !!

Brad

Check out the Leonids Meteor shower during the first part of the week.  Peak viewing is about 2 hours before sunrise on Tuesday and Wednesday.  You can expect around 10 meteors per hour during peak viewing.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off for a mission to the International Space Station.  A great liftoff and terrific crew that will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in orbit.

Hope you are having a great week.  Busy here in the Storm Center getting the holiday schedules set.  Lots of exciting things coming in December along with parades, parties, etc.  Thanksgiving is next week and we’re already looking at the weather for the holiday for us.  We’ll update it as we get closer on the broadcasts.  Don’t forget Debi’s Kids when you’re out shopping at local Walmarts and try to drop a new, unwrapped toy in the box if you can.

Lights of Love for the Ronald McDonald house is Tuesday the 24th and I hope you can help us out.  Every year we raise money for the “House that Love Built.”  It’s a place for families to stay while their children are treated for some tough medical problems at our wonderful MUSC Children’s Hospital.  Only a 10 dollar donation buys a light which helps keep our families warm and safe why the kids are getting better.  The website is www.rmhcharleston.org.

Have a great week and I hope you can join us for tonight’s broadcast.

Bill

Well, Ida is history, but the moisture is left over and that means rain for us into the middle of the week.  The late season tropical weather system came ashore around 6:30 a.m. eastern on Tuesday and will continue to bring mostly rain to the Lowcountry and midlands.  By Thursday, the low will redevelop off the coast of the Carolinas and we’ll see improving weather for the weekend.

We salute our veterans on Wednesday, Veterans Day.  I will be talking to the kids at Sullivans Island Elementary School about serving in the military and what that is like.  I will also be making a visit to the Veterans Hospital downtown. 

Keep our vets in mind and remember their sacrifice for our nation this week.  I hope you can join us for tonight’s broadcasts at 4,5,6,7 and 11.