A frost advisory has been issued for Clarendon County and much of central South Carolina as temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s overnight Friday, Nov. 13, bringing the potential for frost ahead of an even colder weekend.
The National Weather Service in Columbia issued the advisory Friday afternoon, effective late Friday night through sunrise Saturday. A freeze watch also remains in effect for Saturday night into Sunday morning as the region prepares for its first widespread frost and freeze of the season.
The advisory includes Manning, Sumter, Orangeburg and several other communities across the Midlands. Forecasters expect frost to develop particularly in sheltered areas, where temperatures near the ground can fall below freezing even when the air temperature remains slightly warmer.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' State Climatology Office said a series of cold fronts has ended the recent stretch of warm weather across the state, ushering in cooler conditions expected to persist through the weekend.
In a weather update issued Friday, Frank Strait, severe weather liaison with the State Climatology Office, said the coldest temperatures are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. Forecast lows across portions of the Midlands could reach the lower 30s, with temperatures in the 20s possible farther north.
The first widespread freeze of the season could bring an end to the growing season in areas where freezing temperatures have not already occurred. Frost can damage or kill sensitive plants, particularly tender vegetation and late-season crops.
Residents are encouraged to cover vulnerable outdoor plants or move potted plants indoors before temperatures fall overnight. The approaching cold also serves as a reminder to protect exposed outdoor plumbing and provide adequate shelter for pets.
Despite the chilly weekend, temperatures are expected to gradually moderate by the middle of next week. The State Climatology Office said highs could return to the 70s toward the end of the week as the cold air moves out of the region.
The cold fronts brought little rainfall to South Carolina, offering no meaningful relief from ongoing drought conditions. Forecasters expect generally dry weather to continue through much of next week, with the possibility of a wetter weather pattern developing late next week or early the following week.
