Is time running out for snow in South Carolina this winter? Here's what the experts say
South Carolina was one of only two states in the U.S. to report no snow this winter, and meteorologists say it is doubtful the area will get snow anytime soon.
Clay Chaney, meteorologist with the National Weather Service at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, said January 2021 was the last time the state received a significant amount of snowfall. He said South Carolina and Florida had a few flurries but no snow accumulations this year.
Florida's panhandle received the flurries, and parts of North Carolina and Georgia had snow. On Jan. 10 and Jan. 19, there were observer reports of flurries at Caesars Head, one of the state's highest points. However, the flurries did not accumulate to a measurable amount of snow.
Heading into March, the NWS predicts the state will enter a warmer period, with chances for snow looking slim. Spring begins on March 19.
"Here in the Greenville area, we're expecting 70 degrees plus for Tuesday and Wednesday coming up," said Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist at the NWS. "Not enough cold air is expected over the next week and a half. No snow is imaginable in the forecast going into the first part of March. So, it is looking quite doubtful."
The most recent period recorded without snow in the Greenville-Spartanburg area was Jan. 16, 2011, through Feb. 15, 2013. The longest record for no snow in the area was from March 1937 until January 1940.
To count as snowfall, there must be at least a tenth of an inch of snow traces, NWS meteorologist Patrick Moore said.
Could the climate phenomenon El Nino influence this winter's warm weather pattern since we are currently in a neutral phase between El Nino and La Nina?
When La Nina exists, precipitations in the cold Pacific waters drop significantly. During El Nino, precipitation of the warm Pacific waters will increase.
"We've had at least one winter where it was an El Nino winter, and we had no snow," Moore said. "If you look at the climatology, we actually tend to get more snow around here when we're in an El Nino weather pattern."
Did it snow in Hawaii in 2023-2024?
While Hawaii receives snowfall every year, the island's inactive volcano Mauna Kea received 10-12 inches of snow this month, according to the National Weather Service.
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina has had no snow this winter and a change is doubtful
