UPDATE: Myrtle Beach area can expect hours of heavy snowfall. When it will start
Horry County is already seeing snow Saturday evening.
The snow began early Saturday morning, with reports of snow and sleet across the county, including Aynor, Green Sea, Myrtle Beach and the Conway area, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Victoria Oliva.
“The main event is this afternoon,” Oliva said. “We just got an early taste of it.”
By 5:30 p.m. snow had begun to accumulate on roadways and rooftops.
Myrtle Beach appears to be an area being watched as heavy snow is expected later Saturday night, according to NWS warning coordinator meteorologist Brandon Locklear. Locklear said that residents can expect heavy snowfall to begin about 10 p.m.
After that, the area can expect “a good 5 to 7 hour period of decent snow,” Locklear said.
The Myrtle Beach area is expected to receive between 4 to 8 inches, with some areas receiving area amounts, Locklear said.
The Myrtle Beach area is expected to be blanketed in snow and swept by freezing temperatures and winds this weekend, according the National Weather Service.
Horry County and surrounding areas were placed under an extreme cold warning for Saturday night and Sunday, and expected snow onset began trending earlier, expected to start Saturday morning. Myrtle Beach is expected to get 4 inches of snow, but this snowfall could vary between 1 to 9 inches, according to the forecast.
This forecast presents a decrease in total accumulation expected in previous forecasts. Weather service meteorologist Tim Armstrong explained that the numbers were “pulled back” some because there is now more dry air expected in the area, which will limit snowfall. However, he noted, Myrtle Beach is still projected to receive four to five inches of snow, which is significant.
When is snow expected in the Myrtle Beach area?
A rain, snow and sleet mixture is projected to hit the area as early as Saturday morning before sunrise, later transitioning into snow. Armstrong explained that accumulation likely won’t begin until Saturday afternoon, with heavy snowfall coming down Saturday night. The bulk of the snow should occur late Saturday into early Sunday, tapering off soon after.
Dangerously cold temperatures will continue with single digit wind chills Saturday and Sunday nights. High confidence remains that there will be significant snowfall in the region, according to the weather service.
The weekend wind chills pose risks for frostbite and hypothermia for those outside and not properly dressed for the weather.
Travel conditions will be dangerous
Driving conditions will be dangerous, as dry, powdery snow gets whipped up by 25-35 mph gusts of wind, lowering visibility. Travel is discouraged during this weather event. The weather service also anticipates scattered power outages.
Travel will remain hazardous Saturday evening through Monday morning, current predictions show.
Coastal waters are likely to see gale force winds over the weekend as well.
Low-lying roads and adjacent tidal creeks may experience some flooding during the storm, but this is primarily expected to impact certain areas in North Carolina, according to the briefing.
This story was originally published January 31, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
