Will Myrtle Beach see snow again this winter? What early predictions say.
Last winter, snow fell on the Myrtle Beach area and powdered the beach in white. Could it happen again ?
Snow is an unusual sight on South Carolina beaches, but last January, the Myrtle Beach area was ice-slicked and snow-covered. As winter draws closer and a deluge-free hurricane season comes to an end, Grand Strand residents might be wondering what winter weather lurks around the corner.
January’s large snow event was a rare occurrence for Myrtle Beach, where snowfall is usually limited to very light dustings. Following that unusually frosty winter, the area is expected to see warmer temperatures than normal as the next winter approaches.
The National Weather Service predicts unseasonably warm weather could be on its way this October, and the trend appears likely to continue through the winter, according to current models.
The entire state is predicted to have a slightly warmer and drier-than-average winter season this year.
National Weather Service forecasts also show slightly less precipitation overall than average this winter, further dampening the chances of potential snowfall.
However, NWS meteorologist Victoria Olivo said that the current available winter prediction model is “extremely limited in what it can tell us” this early in the season. In 1 to 2 months, a localized winter weather report will be made available by the weather service with increased accuracy, she explained.
Myrtle Beach’s precipitation is often different from other parts of South Carolina because of its proximity to the ocean, Olivo explained. The Grand Strand area typically experiences more rain, or even freezing rain, than areas further inland, but historically, the coast has received less snow than areas further from the coast.
Though the chances of snow are somewhat higher further inland, Olivo said not to rule out the potential for snowfall.
“Myrtle Beach has has its fair share of significant snow,” she said.
Another major factor that will impact weather in Myrtle Beach this winter is La Niña, a phase of a recurring weather pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation that usually brings warmer, drier weather to South Carolina.
La Niña is expected to last through the tail end of 2025, and possibly into early 2026, Olivo said. Still, she noted, it doesn’t mean snow is impossible.
“It doesn’t reduce our chances, it will just be the trend for the winter overall,” she said of the drier, warmer weather.
