Posted in South Carolina Winter January 06, 2018 by

13 Things No One Tells You About Surviving A South Carolina Winter

Chances are pretty good you got whacked by the recent arctic blast that hammered South Carolina. Fortunately, that storm and its frigid temps are not the norm for the Palmetto State — although many of the mountain towns in the Upstate do get some snow each winter. Whether you’re a native, a recent transplant, or just admire our state from afar, here are 13 things no one tells you about surviving the winter in South Carolina:

1. It only lasts a few weeks.
Flickr/Dafne Cholet
If you love those cold temps you should enjoy them while you can because winter in South Carolina comes and goes pretty quickly.
2. Dress in layers of light clothing.
Flickr/Andrew Vargas
When it's cold outside your initial reaction could be to reach for the thickest sweater in the closet. But once you get to work you'll be sweating bullets unless you can take that sweater off after you're inside and warmed up.
3. It always SEEMS colder than it really is.
Flickr/V
You can thank the South Carolina humidity for that. That humidity dogs us in every season!
4. Don't bother putting your summer clothes away.
Flickr/lauren rushing
You'll be back into sleeveless tops and shorts before you know it.
5. If you just moved to the South, don't get rid of all your pretty outerwear and accessories.
Flickr/Rianne Lund
It's worth it to keep them, even if you can only walk around all cute and bundled up 14 days out of the year.
6. Make sure you have one GOOD winter coat in case you want to go outside and play.
Flickr/Pedro & Aiste
If you live in the Upstate you'll wear it more than you will if you live closer to the coast, but you'll be thankful you have it regardless of how much it gets worn.
7. Weathermen in the South get excitable at the first sign of a freeze — and they always exaggerate.
Flickr/ppdiaporama
That being said, don't ignore their advice. It's better to be prepared, than not.
8. At the very HINT of snow from the local weatherman, the stores get jammed.
Flickr/Paul Townsend
Pay attention to the weather and get your provisions early, or the shelves could be empty by the time you get there.
9. Everything shuts down at the first sign of snow.
Flickr/Chris Blakeley
Ok, this may not be true in the Upstate, but definitely everything east of the Midlands closes down after the first snowflake hits the ground. So be prepared.
10. SEIZE THE MOMENT to build a snowman.
© John Jarvis
It may be a while before you see snow in your part of the state again.
11. A frozen windshield can make you late for work.
Flickr/Dieter Blancquaert
If you don't have an ice scraper, try a credit card.
12. If it actually snows as much as the weatherman says it will...
Flickr/Nicolas Grevet
then stay off the roads unless it's unavoidable. This is no time to be out joy riding.
13. When it snows - and we mean REALLY snows - nobody has a CLUE about what to do.
Flickr/theblackdog2071
Do we even have snowplows in South Carolina?

Want to refresh your memory about this winter’s weather predictions made back in August 2017 by the Farmers’ Almanac? Check them out in this article.

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