Freeze warnings go into effect early Wednesday morning across the Upstate, but frosty conditions could exist as far south and east as the Lowcountry.
A cold frontal passage Monday afternoon left in its wake a stout northwest wind and near-record cool temperatures across portions of the Mid-South Tuesday. The heart of the chill is forecast to arrive into the Palmetto State Tuesday night into Wednesday, with temperatures forecast to drop as low as the upper 20s Tuesday night across the Upstate. If the forecast for lows below freezing comes to fruition, it would likely mark the end of the growing season in places like Greenville-Spartanburg, Rock Hill, and Greenwood.
Even away from the typically cooler higher elevations, frost will be possible. Locations across the Midlands could see their first frost of the season, nearly two weeks earlier than average. The risk of widespread frost from Columbia to roughly the I-95 corridor Tuesday night, prompted the issuance of frost advisories for the overnight hours Tuesday.
Much of the state will experience another day of highs well below average Wednesday, with a number of South Carolina cities barely getting into the lower 60s. This early-season cold snap will not last too long, as the pattern responsible for the chilly conditions will shift dramatically into next week. As a trough digs into the Western U.S., a ridge of high pressure will allow for budding warmth across the Eastern U.S. This pattern could linger through the remainder of October according to the Climate Prediction Center.