Weather

Near average storm frequencies are expected this season in the Atlantic Basin.

Prepping for hurricane season starts with knowing your risks. Hurricanes are much more than just a coastal problem, so knowing what types of water and wind hazards could happen where you live is critical to your safety.

There are many factors which may prevent someone from evacuating or taking protective actions, including cost, transportation and mobility. Some weather events, like tornadoes, may only provide a few minutes of lead time. Emergency managers, community groups and municipal agencies are working to close those gaps to get people to safety as quickly as possible. But part of the problem is also as simple as human psychology.

Forecasters at the Colorado State University Tropical Weather and Climate Research Group say that below average activity is expected this hurricane season. They also mention the forecast is highly uncertain this far in advance.

A strong cold front pushed through the area Friday afternoon but will linger just to our south for a few days. A stiff north breeze behind the system will give this weekend a much more winter-like feeling and possibly bring several inches of rain.

A late winter cold snap will settle in for a big part of this week. Freeze Alerts are posted across the state as very chilly temperatures are expected the next 3 nights.

If you live in a flood-prone area, you should be prepared to act during a Flood Watch.

South Carolina’s low-lying nature and subtropical climate makes it vulnerable to flooding. Flooding can take many forms, including flash flooding, river flooding, tropical system flooding and coastal flooding. Depending on where you live, these hazards may have different effects.

South Carolina isn’t known for its tornadoes, but the state still averages about 11 tornadoes a year and ranks twenty-sixth in tornadoes strikes nationally. Frank Strait, Severe Weather Liaison of the South Carolina State Climatology Office, said residents should prepare for tornadoes year-round.

When severe weather approaches, the National Weather Service offices in South Carolina may issue outlooks, advisories, watches or warnings to inform the public about what threats they may face. It’s critical to be able to receive these messages in time, and from trustworthy sources.