Update: Freezing rain threat weakens, cold temps still in forecast

A winter weather advisory, that includes light freezing rain, weakened early Friday morning, according to an update from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.

A chance of freezing rain still exists for Horry County and other parts of the Carolinas, but as of 5:50 a.m. Friday only trace amounts of wintry mix is projected, Reid Hawkins, weather service forecaster, said.

The advisory time has also been scaled back, and it is now in effect until 1 p.m. Friday, instead of 2 p.m.

There is still a threat of ice developing on some bridges and overpasses in advisory areas which are: Horry, Dillon, Darlington, Florence, Marion, Marlboro, Bladen, N.C., Brunswick, N.C., Columbus, N.C., New Hanover, N.C., Pender, N.C., and Robeson, N.C.., forecasters said.

“A low pressure area moving across southern South Carolina will turn to the northeast early this morning and quickly move to the northeast of our area by late in the day. With cold air in place there is an threat of a trace amounts of freezing rain or sleet this morning,” Hawkins said Friday.

It’s also still expected to be a chilly Valentine’s Day on the Grand Strand.

Freezing temperatures on Saturday and Sunday are projected to follow Friday’s trace of winter precipitation, which could lead to ice on bridges and roads.

“Cold Arctic high pressure will build into the area this weekend bringing the coldest temperatures of the year. Low temperatures are expected to drop into the upper teens inland and to the lower 20s along the coast Saturday night into Sunday morning,” Hawkins said.

Those frigid temperatures will also be accompanied by single-digit wind chills. Temperatures on Sunday will stay in the mid- to lower-30s with wind chill values will be in the teens and 20s all day, weather authorities said.

The amount of rain shouldn’t impact the already-flooded rivers much, forecasters said.

“The amount of precipitation is expected to be low from this event. No additional impacts are expected on the 5 rivers in flood,” Hawkins said.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Update: Freezing rain threat weakens, cold temps still in forecast."