Cold temps, dangerous fire conditions expected this weekend in Myrtle Beach area

Spring is officially here, but Old Man Winter will rear its head this weekend with temperatures expected to drop to the 30s and even upper 20s, and dangerous fire conditions may also pose risks.

A blast of Arctic air will bring sub-freezing temperatures to inland Horry County and surrounding areas of northeast South Carolina and southeast North Carolina, weather authorities said.

“Temperatures Saturday night will drop below 32 away from the immediate coast. Upper 20s are likely inland,” Joshua Weiss, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C. said.

There’s also an elevated risk for dangerous fire conditions, prompting Horry County to ban outdoor burning until further notice. Forecasters expect very low relative humidity and 20 mile-per-hour winds to combine and create those dangerous fire conditions, Weiss said.

“The combination of wind, relative humidity, and dry fuels will become dangerous to outdoor burning,” Weiss said.

After a chilly, blustery Saturday, temperatures are expected to plummet early Sunday in Horry and Georgetown counties and Brunswick County, N.C.

Forecasters urged residents to make provisions for pets and protect outdoor water pipes. They also warned that early foliage and crops could be killed by the frosty temperatures. Sensitive outdoor vegetation should be be covered or brought indoors, they said.

“Temperatures will remain below normal through the weekend, but freezing temperatures are not expected beyond Saturday night/Sunday morning,” Weiss said of the cold snap.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Cold temps, dangerous fire conditions expected this weekend in Myrtle Beach area."