Coastal Winter Storm Brings Rare Snowfall to Charleston Tri-County

Forecasters predict 4-7 inches of snow overnight into Sunday morning, with lighter accumulations spreading into southeast Georgia.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:15am

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A strengthening coastal winter storm is expected to deliver significant snowfall across the Charleston Tri-County area of South Carolina overnight into Sunday morning, with the National Weather Service forecasting totals as high as 4 to 7 inches in parts of the region. Lighter but notable snow accumulations are also expected farther south into southeast Georgia, marking a rare and impactful winter weather event for the coastal Southeast.

Why it matters

Snowfall of this magnitude is highly unusual for coastal South Carolina and southeast Georgia, making this event particularly impactful despite totals that would be considered moderate in colder climates. The snow is expected to cause hazardous travel conditions, with officials urging residents to avoid unnecessary overnight travel and use caution on bridges and overpasses.

The details

According to the latest NWS Charleston snowfall forecast, the highest snow totals are expected across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, where bands of heavier snow may persist through the overnight hours. Forecast maps indicate 4-6 inches across parts of Summerville and Moncks Corner, 3-4 inches possible in the Charleston metro area, and 2-3 inches extending inland toward Walterboro, Allendale, and Sylvania. South of the South Carolina border, snow totals are expected to taper off but remain impactful, with 1-2 inches across Statesboro and Metter, around 1 inch near Hinesville and Savannah, and up to 1 inch or less south of Interstate 16, including areas near Darien.

  • Snow is expected to continue through the overnight hours, with the most persistent snowfall occurring late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
  • The storm is forecast to gradually wind down from west to east, with snow ending by mid to late Sunday morning for most areas.

The players

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service is the primary source for weather forecasting and issuing weather warnings in the United States.

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What’s next

Officials urge residents to avoid unnecessary overnight travel, use caution on bridges and overpasses, and allow extra time for Sunday morning travel, as road conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly.

The takeaway

This coastal winter storm event is highly unusual for the Southeast, with snowfall totals that would be considered moderate in colder climates but are expected to cause significant disruptions and hazardous travel conditions in the region.