Live updates: Schools closed for another day. View roads in Hilton Head, Beaufort County
Schools remain closed for another day
(Updated 1:53 p.m. Jan. 23, 2025)
Beaufort County School District:
There will be no school or eLearning, Friday, Jan. 24, and district buildings will be closed.
All extracurricular and athletic activities scheduled through Sunday, Jan. 26, are canceled.
Unless the district communicates otherwise, schools will resume normal operations on Monday, January 27, 2025.
The joint Board of Education/SIC meeting will be postponed until a date to be determined in February.
Due to prior storms this school year, there are no more eLearning days to use, meaning that BCSD will use the predetermined weather day on March 17.
Jasper County School District:
Jasper County School District will have an eLearning day on Friday, Jan. 24, and all staff will work remotely. A decision for Monday, Jan. 27, will be decided over the weekend.
All evening athletic activities will be rescheduled for a later date.
Check on road conditions with traffic cameras
(Updated 10:44 a.m. Jan. 23, 2025)
As of Thursday morning, snow plow crews in the Lowcountry had mostly finished their work on I-95 and shifted focus to clearing and de-icing major highways across Beaufort and Jasper counties.
Still, officials are continuing to urge the public to stay off “treacherous” Lowcountry roadways for nonessential travel due to the risk of dangerous black ice.
If you are braving the roads, here’s a look at current conditions on major highways in the Hilton Head Island area.
Drivers can view roadway conditions by using traffic cameras; however, it will be difficult to see some conditions, such as black ice, which is virtually invisible.
Savannah, Hilton Head Island airports remain closed
(Updated 10:45 p.m. Jan. 23, 2025)
Runways at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport remain closed Thursday following Tuesday’s snowfall and continuing freezing temperatures.
The runway conditions are preventing any flights from getting in or out, according to Lori Lynah, a spokesperson for the airport.
Ultimately, the snow and frozen precipitation is causing problems on the airport’s runways.
Crews are working to clear the runways and taxiways. Given that the temperatures fell below freezing last night, the runways needed to be kept closed, and they will remain closed until workers can assess them Thursday morning, Lynah said.
The Hilton Head Island Airport also remains closed, citing on its Facebook page snow and weather conditions for its closure. The airport said in a Thursday post that a thick layer of ice remains on the runway and taxiway surfaces because of recurring overnight temperatures.
Drivers facing freezing temps and icy roads
(Updated 6:13 a.m. Jan. 23, 2025)
Temperatures are in the low teens across the area Thursday morning and will remain below freezing through late morning, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston.
As a result, many roadways will remain hazardous for travel with compact snow and ice, including black ice. That includes primary road, secondary roads and back roads, plus bridges and overpasses.
Motorists are being urged by local law enforcement to either stay off the roads or proceed with caution when driving.
Beaufort Memorial announces closures
(Updated 5:37 p.m. Jan 22, 2025)
Thursday update: Beaufort Memorial Hospital plans to return to normal operating hours on Thursday, with other facilities and clinics scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.
Beaufort Memorial announced Tuesday that the hospital and its emergency room will remain open through the storm, but that visiting hours will be suspended from 5 p.m. Tuesday through noon on Wednesday. Telehealth services will remain available for patients around the clock.
Due to the expected severe winter weather, there will be closures in the coming days, according to the hospital. Physicians’ practices and outpatient departments will be closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22, and all three express care and occupational health clinics will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will not open on Wednesday.
Elective surgeries planned for Wednesday at the hospital and the Beaufort Memorial Surgery Center have been rescheduled.
Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and infusion services will continue as planned Tuesday, but appointments scheduled for Wednesday have been rescheduled.
The billing and medical records departments will be closed on Wednesday, and the LifeFit Wellness Center will shut down at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will not open Wednesday.
Novant Health Facilities closings
Novant Health facilities including Hilton Head Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Hospital and Tidewatch Emergency Department are open and operational but have specific closings for Thursday, Jan 23. These include:
- Outpatient departments including radiology and lab departments closed Thursday, Jan. 23
- Elective surgeries for Thursday, Jan. 23 have been rescheduled and patients have been contacted.
- Physician offices are anticipated to open at noon on Thursday, Jan. 23 unless weather deems it unsafe.
Government offices to remain closed
(Updated 5:36 p.m. Jan. 122, 2025)
Hilton Head Town Hall will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, but all online business services remain in operation through their website.
The Town of Bluffton offices will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, with employees working remotely. Town services will remain open electronically.
The City of Beaufort announced that their offices will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, and will reevaluate Friday operations by 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Talmadge Bridge remains closed
(Updated 2:41 p.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
The Talmadge Bridge that spans across the Savannah River and connects downtown Savannah with Hutchinson Island will be closed for the remainder of Wednesday, according the Georgia Department of Transportation.
It is unclear when or if it will reopen on Thursday.
The bridge has been closed since early morning Wednesday by the Chatham County Government.
However, the Georgia DOT decided to shut the bridge down for the rest of Wednesday in order to de-ice the bridge without traffic backup, according to spokesperson Jill Nagel.
Wintry conditions, car collisions and at least one disabled vehicle led to the bridge closure. As accidents continued throughout the day, the decision was made to close the bridge.
Nagel said she does not know when the bridge will open back up.
Schools remain closed
(Updated 3:05 p.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
Beaufort County School District:
There will be no school or eLearning on Thursday, Jan. 23, and district buildings will be closed.
All extracurricular activities are canceled.
The joint Board of Education/SIC meeting will be postponed until a date to be determined in February.
Due to prior storms this school year, there are no more eLearning days to use, meaning that BCSD will use the predetermined weather day on March 17.
A decision regarding Friday, Jan. 24, will be communicated by 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (after Emergency Management’s projection of road conditions).
BCSD had an eLearning and remote workday on Wednesday, Jan. 22. All district buildings were closed and all after-school activities on Wednesday are canceled.
Jasper County School District:
Wednesday, Jan. 22, was a Professional Development Day for Jasper County schools, meaning that there will be no students in attendance at schools. Faculty and staff will work from home for the scheduled professional development activities on this day.
Update for Thursday, Jan. 23: Jasper County School District will have an eLearning Day on Thursday, Jan. 23.
All evening athletic activities will be rescheduled for a later date.
Faculty and staff will work from home on Thursday, Jan. 23.
A decision regarding Friday, Jan. 24, will be made by 1 p.m. on Thursday.
Airports still closed because of snowy runways
(Updated 1:01 p.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
Runways at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport are still closed, ultimately preventing any flights from getting in or out.
Airlines at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport began preemptively canceling flights, including incoming flights, Tuesday due to the inclement weather that was expected to hit the area.
As of Wednesday afternoon, runways, taxi and tower are all still closed, according to Lori Lynah, a spokesperson for the airport.
In addition, the Hilton Head Island Airport has closed its airfield, citing on its Facebook page snow and weather conditions for its closure.
What grocery stores and restaurants are open
(Updated 11:30 a.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
Here are what grocery stores are open or will be open Wednesday:
Publix: All Beaufort and Jasper county locations are scheduled to open at noon on Wednesday. Thursday hours are to be determined.
Kroger: Open for normal weekday hours from 7 a.m. to midnight, but customers should expect low stock and potential order cancellations on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Harris Teeter: Open for normal hours 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
ALDI: Open for normal hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Fresh Market: Open for normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., but is subject to change based on weather conditions.
Walmart: Open for normal business hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Food Lion: 1008 Fording Island Road location open for normal hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but is subject to change based on weather conditions. 210 Okatie Village Drive location is scheduled to open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Piggly Wiggly in Hilton Head: Open for normal business hours on Tuesday, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Here are what restaurant are closed:
Poseidon: Closing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 21, and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Nectar (Bluffton): Open Tuesday, Jan. 21 until 9 p.m. and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Nectar (Hilton Head): Open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 21. and closed Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Giuseppi’s (Bluffton): Open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Giuseppi’s (Hilton Head): Open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
One Hot Mama’s: Closing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Frankie Bones (Bluffton): Closing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Frankie Bones (Hilton Head): Closing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
WiseGuys: Closing at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Dockside: Open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Boathouse: Closing at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21. Closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Black Marlin: Open for normal hours Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
CharBar: Open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed Wednesday, Jan. 22.
SERG Takeout Kitchen: Open until 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21 and closed all day Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Surge in accidents, ‘impassable’ routes
(Updated 9:58 a.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
Officials warned residents not to travel unless absolutely necessary as Lowcountry residents woke up to roadways blanketed in white Wednesday morning.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said routes across their jurisdiction were “icy and dangerous” for travelers on Wednesday and urged the public to stay off the roads. Authorities in Jasper County were just as stern, saying that “many roads” in the county were impassable.
The department’s Emergency Management Division had received about 40 reports of vehicle accidents throughout the county since the snow started around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen.
No major roadways were closed in Beaufort or Jasper counties as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to a live closures map from the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Snow has fallen. What’s next?
(Updated 9:15 a.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
While the chances for winter precipitation will end soon for Beaufort County, the area remains under a cold weather advisory until Thursday.
The winter storm warning will lift Wednesday at noon. However, cold temperatures will continue through the next few days, making roadways potentially dangerous.
Wednesday’s high in Beaufort County will be 35 degrees with a low of 21 degrees overnight. On Thursday, the daytime high will reach only 36 degrees. Temperatures Wednesday night are expected to reach near record lows.
Snow amounts climb for Beaufort County
(Updated 7:33 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service released their latest update for the winter storm expected to blow through Beaufort County.
The total snowfall for Tuesday night into Wednesday has increased since earlier Tuesday and is now expected to total 4 to 6 inches.
The area also remains under a cold weather advisory, which will remain in effect until Thursday morning. Tuesday night wind chills are expected to drop to 15 degrees, a near record low for the area. As clouds dissipate on Wednesday, the temperatures will rise to the mid 30s.
Here’s who to call for emergency and outages
(Updated 3:42 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
To report power outages/gas leaks:
Dominion Energy
- Power outages and downed/sparking lines: 1-888-333-4465
- Gas leaks: 1-800-815-0083
Palmetto Electric
- Power outages: 1-866-445-5551
To report issues with water/sewer services:
Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority
- 843-987-9200
Broad Creek Public Service District
- 843-785-7582
Hilton Head Public Service District
- 843-681-5052
To report cable/internet outages:
Hargray/Sparklight
- 843-686-1138
Spectrum
- 1-833-267-6094
Brightspeed
- 1-833-692-7773
For all emergencies, call 911.
For non-emergencies, call 843-524-2777 (Use this number if attempting to report non-urgent information to Beaufort County law enforcement agencies, fire departments or Beaufort County EMS).
Savannah-Hilton airport canceling flights
(Updated 3:13 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
Airlines at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport have begun to preemptively cancel flights due to the inclement weather expected to hit beginning this afternoon.
All incoming flights Tuesday evening are canceled, according to Lori Lynah, a spokesperson for the airport. The conditions on the runways Wednesday will determine the scale of delays on Wednesday and in the coming days.
“It’s a moving target,” Lynah said. “So it’s best to check with carriers.”
There have been 10 delays and 30 cancellations at the airport as of Tuesday, according to Flight Aware.
Cold shelters opening
(Updated 3 p.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
Here are cold shelters that are open in the area:
- Burton Wells Recreation Center, 1 Middleton Recreation Drive, Beaufort, is now open. It is being operated by the Department of Social Services.
Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort, opened at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19. The cold weather shelter will operate from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. through the morning of Thursday, Jan. 23.
Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head, will operate a cold weather shelter from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. from Monday, Jan. 20 through the morning of Thursday, Jan. 23.
Kingdom Touch Ministries, 6714 Tillman Road, Ridgeland, will open at 6 p.m. Tuesday to assist those in need.
Agape Life Center, 5855 South Okatie Highway, Hardeeville, will open on Tuesday evening.
Schools close because of impending storm
(Updated 1:35 p.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
Jasper County School District:
Wednesday, Jan. 22, is a Professional Development Day for Jasper County schools, meaning that there will be no students in attendance at schools. Faculty and staff will work from home for the scheduled professional development activities on this day.
Updates for Thursday operations will be decided on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Beaufort under winter storm warning. When will snow start to fall?
(Updated 9:16 a.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
The chances of snow and freezing rain have increased for Beaufort County.
The National Weather Service issued Sunday a winter storm warning for the area, with the county still under a cold weather advisory.
Updated forecasts show much of Beaufort and southern Jasper counties will experience a mix of snow and sleet. Rain falling in the early evening Tuesday will likely turn to snow overnight.
The snow and freezing rain is expected to start from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with the greatest impacts occurring from 8 p.m. Tuesday into early morning Wednesday. The winter storm warning is expected to lift Wednesday at noon.
Meteorologists predict increasing chances of snow in Beaufort County, Hilton Head
(Updated 8:43 a.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
New forecasts show an increasing chance of snow Tuesday and Wednesday in Beaufort County.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service have issued a winter storm watch and a cold weather advisory for the coming days.
Should snow fall on the area’s sandy beaches, it would be the first snow the area has seen in seven years.
In addition to the snow accumulations, updated forecasts from the national Weather Service show a longer period of very cold temperatures.
Residents can expect the coldest temperatures to occur Tuesday through Thursday. Both days will have daytime highs in the 30s, with lows overnight reaching the 20s. The breezy conditions will create windchill values as low as 8 to 15 degrees both nights.
If snow falls on Hilton Head and other SC spots, you can watch it through live webcams
(Updated 8:37 a.m. Jan. 21, 2025)
If you’re hoping for snow, but don’t want to step foot out into the cold or want to watch the winter wonderland from far away, these live webcams across the island can provide great views and live updates on outdoor conditions.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 8:43 AM.
